Abstract: A multi-layer bladder construct consisting of a non-stretchable outer covering and a stretchable inner bladder. The outer covering has an inner surface and is made from woven polymer fibers having a warp direction and a weft direction. The inner bladder is made from a bi-axially oriented polymer film. The inner bladder has an outer surface area that is smaller than the inner surface area of the outer covering. Upon inflation, the inner bladder stretches and expands until the outer surface of the inner bladder engages the inner surface of the outer covering, whereby a portion of tensile force loading on the outer covering is shared with the inner bladder. A stretchable flexible film is incorporated into the inner bladder in at least one selected location. The stretchable flexible film has an elastic expansion range which is greater that the elastic expansion range of the remainder of the inner bladder.

Abstract: A multi-layer bladder construct consisting of a non-stretchable outer covering and a stretchable inner bladder. The outer covering has an inner surface and is made from woven polymer fibers having a warp direction and a weft direction. The inner bladder is made from a bi-axially oriented polymer film. The inner bladder has an outer surface area that is smaller than the inner surface area of the outer covering. Upon inflation, the inner bladder stretches and expands until the outer surface of the inner bladder engages the inner surface of the outer covering, whereby a portion of tensile force loading on the outer covering is shared with the inner bladder. A stretchable flexible film is incorporated into the inner bladder in at least one selected location. The stretchable flexible film has an elastic expansion range which is greater that the elastic expansion range of the remainder of the inner bladder.

Abstract: A friction-sealed water immersion suit is described having a suit body with a neck opening, arm openings, leg openings and an entry opening. The entry opening defines an upper section and a lower section. A friction-sealed coupling is provided at the entry opening for coupling the upper section and the lower section of the suit body. The friction-sealed coupling includes a flap on one of the upper section or the lower section made of an elastomeric material and an inner flap and an outer flap on the other of the upper section or the lower section made of an elastomeric material. The friction-sealed coupling being engaged by interleaving the flap with the inner flap and the outer flap.

Abstract: A breathable waterproof stretchable multi-layer foam construct includes a stretchable closed-cell foam layer having a first face and a second face. A plurality of vents are dispersed across the foam layer, with each vent extending through the foam layer from a first end at the first face to a second end at the second face. A first breathable waterproof stretchable fabric laminate is bonded by adhesive to the foam layer and covering the first end of each vent at the first face. A second breathable waterproof stretchable fabric laminate is bonded by adhesive to the foam layer and covering the second end of each vent at the second face. The breathable waterproof stretchable multi-layer foam construct can be used to fabricate such articles as floatation-assist devices, sports apparel and water immersion suits.

Abstract: A method for monitoring air pressure in a kite when kite boarding is described. The method involves a first step of connecting an air pressure sensor to one or more bladders of the kite. The method involves a second step of positioning a visual display for the air pressure sensor where it will be visible to a user conducting a visual inspection of the kite to display a pressure reading as sensed by the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A breathable waterproof stretchable multi-layer foam construct includes a stretchable closed-cell foam layer having a first face and a second face. A plurality of vents are dispersed across the foam layer, with each vent extending through the foam layer from a first end at the first face to a second end at the second face. A first breathable waterproof stretchable fabric laminate is bonded by adhesive to the foam layer and covering the first end of each vent at the first face. A second breathable waterproof stretchable fabric laminate is bonded by adhesive to the foam layer and covering the second end of each vent at the second face. The breathable waterproof stretchable multi-layer foam construct can be used to fabricate such articles as floatation-assist devices, sports apparel and water immersion suits.

Abstract: An electrode for a lead-acid voltaic cell comprises a high surface area, high porosity 3-dimensional lattice structure wherein the core elements forming the lattice are substantially contiguous. The core elements are coated with one or more corrosion resistant and conductive materials, and solid active materials are coated on the core elements and retained within the matrix. The lattice structure acts as the current collector.

Abstract: A massive de-powering system for a kite wing used in kite boarding comprises a deflation control line that connects to a valve on the kite wing's leading edge bladder. In the preferred embodiment, disengaging the tether line from the harness causes the deflation control line to tension and to open the valve, thereby deflating the bladder. Tension along the deflation control line may also act to draw in spaced portions of the wing thereby collapsing it and further reducing the power generated by the wing.

Abstract: A friction-sealed water immersion suit is described having a suit body with a neck opening, arm openings, leg openings and an entry opening. The entry opening defines an upper section and a lower section. A friction-sealed coupling is provided at the entry opening for coupling the upper section and the lower section of the suit body. The friction-sealed coupling includes a flap on one of the upper section or the lower section made of an elastomeric material and an inner flap and an outer flap on the other of the upper section or the lower section made of an elastomeric material. The friction-sealed coupling being engaged by interleaving the flap with the inner flap and the outer flap.

Abstract: A method for monitoring air pressure in a kite when kite boarding is described. The method involves a first step of connecting an air pressure sensor to one or more bladders of the kite. The method involves a second step of positioning a visual display for the air pressure sensor where it will be visible to a user conducting a visual inspection of the kite to display a pressure reading as sensed by the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A low temperature method for converting poly(hydrocarbyne) into diamond-like carbon is based on removing pendant hydrogen using chemical or electrochemical means.

Abstract: Poly(hydridocarbyne) (PHC) is synthesized by a hybrid, active-metal/electrochemical method by applying a voltage to the electrodes at least one of which is an active-metal, the electrodes being immersed in a trisubstituted halomethane solution. The active-metal electrode and halomethane solution both partake in the electrochemical reaction.

Abstract: A massive de-powering system for a kite wing used in kite boarding comprises a deflation control line that connects to a valve on the kite wing's leading edge bladder. In the preferred embodiment, disengaging the tether line from the harness causes the deflation control line to tension and to open the valve, thereby deflating the bladder. Tension along the deflation control line may also act to draw in spaced portions of the wing thereby collapsing it and further reducing the power generated by the wing.

Abstract: A reticulated foam structure comprising a plurality of closely-spaced fibers extending across and between the cells. A reticulated polymer foam structure is enhanced by fibers of metal, metal alloys, metal oxides, carbon or glass that are chopped or milled and introduced into the foam structure during foam formation or by entrainment of fibers into the foam. The resulting structure is used as a template to create a high porosity reticulated foam structure of a non-polymer material by coating the non-polymer onto the fiber-enhanced structure and removing the polymer by heating or pyrolizing. The design has utility for applications such as filtration, implants, heat transfer and electrodes, which require structures with low cost, high porosity, small effective pore sizes and large contact surface area.

Abstract: Poly(hydridocarbyne) (PHC) is synthesized by a hybrid, active-metal/electrochemical method by applying a voltage to the electrodes at least one of which is an active-metal, the electrodes being immersed in a trisubstituted halomethane solution. The active-metal electrode and halomethane solution both partake in the electrochemical reaction.

Abstract: An electrode for a lead-acid voltaic cell comprises a high surface area, high porosity 3-dimensional lattice structure wherein the core elements forming the lattice are substantially contiguous. The core elements are coated with one or more corrosion resistant and conductive materials, and solid active materials are coated on the core elements and retained within the matrix. The lattice structure acts as the current collector.

Abstract: A totally implantable cochlear prosthesis is presented. An externally-activated subcutaneous switch controls functions of the prosthesis. A pliable bridge connecting two hermetically sealed housing sections, and corrugated conductor lines, provide for future dimensional changes due to head growth. An encapsulated microphone is positioned underneath the skin in the posterior wall of the external auditory canal. A modiolus-hugging electrode array is inserted into one of the cochlea scala. Periodic charging of the implanted battery is accomplished via an external mechanically held head-mounted device containing an external coil, said external coil inductively coupling electrical power to an implanted receiving coil. The external and implanted coils can also be used as a communication link to program the implanted electronics.

Abstract: A design and method for fabricating a low profile, biocompatible, hermetically sealed, subcutaneous enclosure for human implants is disclosed. The implant includes bonded top and a bottom plates, and an insert bonded to an aperture in the bottom plate. Passageways that extend through the insert are filled with a conductive material to provide hermetic but conductive leads to the interior of the implant. Successive layers of metals are used to bond the insert to the bottom plate and to establish a bond between a first layer of polymer covering the insert and bottom plate. An additional polymer layer containing contact pads and conductor lines is bonded to the first layer. The implant includes a low profile safety on-off switch and a hermetically sealed low profile rechargeable battery.

Abstract: A totally implantable microphone for use with an implanted hearing aid comprises a cylindrical bio-inert housing having a bio-inert metallic membrane at the acoustic sensing end and a bio-inert plate containing electrical lead-throughs at the other end. The cylindrical housing is implanted in the posterior wall of the external auditory canal, with the thin auditory canal skin overlaying the microphone membrane surface. Surface features on the housing ossiointegrate it to the auditory canal bone, and a flange on the housing posterior end prevents post-operative migration into the auditory canal. A support plate beneath the membrane limits inward flexing and increases the signal-to-noise ratio. A protruding rim around the membrane perimeter acts to protect the membrane from rupturing during outward flexure. Lithographically formed wires laminated in a thin inert polymer and connected to the lead-throughs enable the overall length of the encapsulated microphone to be very short.

Abstract: A multi-bipolar configured electrode array and means to uniquely position said array within the scalae of the human cochlea is described. Said array is inserted into the scala tympani, scala vestibuli or both, by a surgeon. The electrode array may be pre-formed to lightly hug the modiolar wall of a scala so as to position the electrodes in close proximity to the cochlear spiral lamina and spiral ganglia in the modiolus. Mechanical features within said array allow the surgeon to further position said array against the modiolar wall of the scala, post insertion, and to mechanically retain such positioning of said array. Such positioning is in close proximity to surviving neural sites in the spiral lamina and/or spiral ganglion cells in the modiolus to efficiently stimulate functioning auditory neural elements. The multi-bipolar electrode configuration achieves a high degree of spatial selectivity, thus improving the implantee's speech percepts.