Abstract: The invention is a pneumatic impact hammer in which the vibrations created in the motor portion of the tool are substantially reduced prior to reaching the tool's handle portion. The motor portion is allowed to move relative to the tool's handle portion and is located within a handle-attached cylindrical housing. Low-friction plastic bearings are located between the motor portion and the surrounding housing. The cycling valve that controls the reciprocating movement of the tool's piston is attached to the motor and receives air from a flexible air inlet tube that is slidably engaged to the motor and is secured to the tool's handle portion.

Abstract: Proteoglycan deficiency in articular cartilage is diagnosed based on quantified signal intensities of pixels of a magnetic resonance image (MRI) extending across a depth of the articular cartilage. A pattern of the thus quantified signal intensities is indicative of proteoglycan distribution across the cartilage depth.

Abstract: The invention is a safety mechanism for an air-powered tool. The mechanism senses the position of the tool's implement retainer and disables the air flow to the tool's motor if the retainer is not in its locked position. The mechanism employs a pushrod that has one end adapted to contact a rear surface of the retainer when the retainer is in its lock position. The other end of the pushrod is adapted to contact a spring-biased ball-type check valve located within the air inlet to the tool's motor. When the retainer is removed from the tool, the pushrod moves forwardly under the urging of the valve and at the same time allows the valve to move to its closed position to thereby prevent any flow of pressurized air to the motor.

Abstract: An improved ratchet wrench tool ratcheting mechanism is provided wherein springs encased in the shank spindle have balls at each end of the springs to abut fixed washer surfaces so that tool operation and life is improved by increasing the frictional force and reducing the spring stress, unbalanced load, and housing yoke wear experienced by prior art mechanisms.