Abstract: A self-adjusting gastric band applies a substantially constant force to a patient's fundus in order to facilitate weight control. The self-adjusting gastric band is capable of automatically relaxing and contracting in response to changes in the patient's fundus or in response to a large bolus passing through the patient's fundus that is constricted by the gastric band. The self-adjusting gastric band is automatically adjustable without hydraulic fluid and without external physician intervention. The self-adjusting gastric band comprises a movable member and a biasing mechanism coupled to the movable member to facilitate applying the substantially constant force against the fundus as the fundus changes size, shape and/or position.

Abstract: Analyte monitoring devices and methods therefore are provided. The devices integrate various functions of analyte monitoring, e.g., sample acquisition and testing.

Abstract: Analyte monitoring devices and methods therefore are provided. The devices integrate various functions of analyte monitoring, e.g., sample acquisition and testing.

Abstract: A self-adjusting gastric band applies a substantially constant force to a patient's fundus in order to facilitate weight control. The self-adjusting gastric band is capable of automatically relaxing and contracting in response to changes in the patient's fundus or in response to a large bolus passing through the patient's fundus that is constricted by the gastric band. The self-adjusting gastric band is automatically adjustable without hydraulic fluid and without external physician intervention. The self-adjusting gastric band comprises a movable member and a biasing mechanism coupled to the movable member to facilitate applying the substantially constant force against the fundus as the fundus changes size, shape and/or position.

Abstract: Analyte monitoring devices and methods therefore are provided. The devices integrate various functions of analyte monitoring, e.g., sample acquisition and testing.

Abstract: Analyte monitoring devices and methods therefore are provided. The devices integrate various functions of analyte monitoring, e.g., sample acquisition and testing.

Abstract: A rack-and-pinion print media guide system comprises two racks which are operatively coupled for reciprocal movement relative to each other by way of a central gear cluster instead of a single central gear (pinion) to expand the maximum media capture range. The gear cluster comprises first and second pinions and at least one center idler gear which is operatively coupled between the pinions with each rack skipping the center idler gear during operation.

Abstract: A rack-and-pinion print media guide system comprises two racks which are operatively coupled for reciprocal movement relative to each other by way of a central gear cluster instead of a single central gear (pinion) to expand the maximum media capture range. The gear cluster comprises first and second pinions and at least one center idler gear which is operatively coupled between the pinions with each rack skipping the center idler gear during operation.

Abstract: An imaging forming device using a platen, an upper peel roller, a lower peel roller movably positioned under and parallel to the upper peel roller, a diverter bar rotatably positioned underneath the platen and near the upper and lower peel rollers and adapted to guide a printable medium backing to move between the platen and the upper peel roller to between the upper and lower peel rollers, a peel bar rotatably positioned over the upper peel roller, a pair of lever cams rotatably positioned respectively at opposite ends of the upper and lower peel rollers, the lever cams are adapted to push the lower peel roller to press the printable medium backing against the upper peel roller during operation for moving the printable medium backing through the imaging forming device and to allow the lower peel roller to separate apart from the upper peel roller when the imaging forming device is open for loading the printable medium backing in between the upper and lower rollers.

Abstract: A CD-ROM tower holds 100 CD-ROM disks or like media in five removable magazines. The magazines are identifiable by a robotics control system in the tower. The tower further includes four drives which receive the disks and transfer data from the disks to a SCSI bus. A transport mechanism controlled by the robotics control system raises and lowers an elevator with respect to the magazines and the drives. A tray picker mechanism on the elevator pulls a tray out of a magazine, and a disk lifter mechanism on the elevator lifts a disk from the tray. After the tray is returned to the magazine, the elevator is moved a drive and the disk is lowered onto the drive drawer. In similar manner, a disk is removed from a drive drawer and returned to a magazine tray. The tower is configured to use commercially available CD-ROM drives or other media drives so that the drives are available at commodity prices and are easily replaceable and upgradeable.

Abstract: A cartridge tape drive having a housing with an opening dimensioned to allow endwise insertion of a rectangular cartridge with an access door along a side edge thereof. The cartridge is supported on a stationary support within the housing. The cartridge tape drive is provided with a mechanism which opens the access door, and a mechanism which moves the cartridge laterally within the housing into operative engagement with a magnetic head. The magnetic head is attached to the stationary support.

Abstract: A cartridge tape drive having a housing with an opening dimensioned to allow endwise insertion of a rectangular cartridge with an access door along a side edge thereof. The cartridge is supported on a stationary support within the housing. The cartridge tape drive is provided with a mechanism which opens the access door, and a mechanism which moves the cartridge laterally within the housing into operative engagement with a magnetic head. The magnetic head is attached to the stationary support.

Abstract: A cartridge tape drive having a housing with an opening dimensioned to allow endwise insertion of a rectangular cartridge with an access door along a side edge thereof. The cartridge is supported on a stationary support within the housing. The cartridge tape drive is provided with a mechanism which opens the access door, and a mechanism which moves the cartridge laterally within the housing into operative engagement with a magnetic head. The magnetic head is attached to the stationary support.

Abstract: A cartridge tape drive having a housing with an opening dimensioned to allow endwise insertion of a rectangular cartridge with an access door along a side edge thereof. The cartridge is supported on a stationary support within the housing. The cartridge tape drive is provided with a mechanism which opens the access door, and a mechanism which moves the cartridge laterally within the housing into operative engagement with a magnetic head. The magnetic head is attached to the stationary support.

Abstract: A disk drive system includes a mechanism for positioning a movable transducer member in the absence of electrical power to the drive system. The mechanism includes a ferromagnetic lever arm pivotably positioned to engage a movable transducer member and, by such engagement, to move the transducer to a predetermined location. An electromagnet attracts the lever arm to a position clear of the movable transducer member in the presence of electrical power to the drive system, and a spring moves the lever arm into engagement with the movable transducer member when the electromagnet is not energized.

Abstract: The transducer or transducers are mounted to the bottom of a U-frame carrying a coil between the legs; the coil is slipped onto and runs over a bar, facing two permanent magnets. One leg of the U-frame is suspended on leaf springs, being connected also to a base, so that the frame moves strictly linearly without lateral displacement. A similar spring mount may be connected to the other leg of the U-frame. The springs may have a U-configuration or an E-configuration.

Abstract: A stepper-motor-driven capstan is connected to a split band whose two portions loop around two idlers disposed on a displacement member and in line with the displacement and are doubled back to be affixed to another stepping device, such as multi-position armature devices or another step-motor-driven capstan. This arrangement permits interspersing of steps in order to reduce the actuator step length for a given stepping angle of the motor or motors, for increasing, for example, track density on a disk cooperating with a transducer on the displacement member.