Abstract: A catheter device is described with a safety needle guard that covers and protects the needle after use of the device. The device includes a semi-tubular needle housing containing a flash chamber with a hollow needle extending from the distal end of the flash chamber. A tubular needle guard concentrically fits and slides within the needle housing. The needle guard has a longitudinal slot through which the mounting base of the flash chamber passes as the guard slides within the housing. The top of the semi-tubular housing is open so that a user may access the top of the tubular needle guard with a finger to urge the needle guard to an extended position from the distal end of the housing and in a surrounding position about the needle. As the needle guard attains its fully extended position about the needle, it locks in place in the needle housing.

Abstract: A back pressure sensor for a positive displacement pump comprises at least one flexible beam having a pivot end and a drive connector end, and a pump actuator mounted between the pivot end and the drive connector end. The pump actuator connects with a positive displacement member of a pump. At least one sensor beam is connected to the flexible beam at a mounting position between the distal end and vibration damping end thereof. A first capacitor plate is mounted on the flexible beam at a position adjacent to the pivot end thereof, and a second capacitor plate is mounted adjacent the distal end of the sensor beam in a position facing the first capacitor plate at a distance which permits a capacitance coupling between the capacitor plates. A vibration damping mass is secured to the vibration damping end of the sensor beam for damping drive motion vibrations in the sensor beam.

Abstract: A camera includes (1) a socket for detachably receiving a flashbulb, (2) a sensing member, coupled to the socket, for sensing a flashbulb, and (3) a photosensor, responsive to visible light and infrared (IR), for controlling an exposure in accordance with the visible light and IR passing along a light path to the photosensor during an exposure interval. A full IR-attenuating filter, responsive to the sensing member, is normally biased into alignment with the light path for effectively blocking IR from impinging upon the photosensor when an exposure is made solely in ambient light, and is positioned outside the light path when a flash exposure is made. A partial IR-attenuating filter (800 nanometers and above), coupled to the sensing member, is located in the optical path while a flashbulb is in the socket to allow the prevailing IR between 700 and 800 nanometers to influence the control of a flash exposure.

Abstract: A magnetic head drum includes an upper section that carries a set of magnetic heads and rotates at a preselected head speed, and a stationary lower section that is characterized by a reduced diameter step formed along the tape wrap path thereover (e.g., a helical path for a helical scan recorder). Because of the reduced diameter step, tape pressure is shifted from the lower drum section to the upper drum section which, by virtue of its rotation, produces a low friction air bearing. The reduction in diameter to produce the above-described step, moreover, results in a shoulder or ledge along the lower edge of the tape wrap path, which shoulder serves as a guide for the tape, and promotes accurate tape tracking over the drum.The amount of reduction in diameter for the lower drum section is not chosen arbitrarily, but is preferably within a range of 1 to 6 mils. In this range, a desirable balance is achieved between reduction in frictional drag and limiting of forces tending to distort the tape.