Abstract: A therapy system includes a patient support apparatus and a pneumatic therapy device that is coupleable to the patient support apparatus. The therapy device may receive power and air flow from the patient support apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods directed to transferring fluid from a supply container to a plurality of uptake containers are disclosed utilizing a common vacuum bore in communication with a plurality of channels adapted to receive the uptake containers for drawing vacuum in the uptake containers for delivery of fluid into the uptake containers. The apparatuses and methods further contemplate transferring a plurality of individual fluid samples, each contained in its own supply container, to a plurality of corresponding individual uptake containers in a one-to-one isomorphic displacement. Thus, the apparatuses and methods of this invention are capable of handling a large number of individual fluid samples in the shortest time possible without contaminating the homogeneity of the individual fluid samples being transferred. Additionally, the apparatuses and methods of this invention contemplate transferring fluid into a large number of samples in the shortest time possible.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to enable interruption of list processing operations in a computer system and to enable restart from the point of interruption. A mechanism, at a predetermined point of the list processing operation, operates to recognize occurrences of interrupting events. If any such events are present, a mechanism saves the status of the list processing operation, saves the identification of the task associated with instruction executing the list processing operation and locks the list or queue. After the interrupt is handled, a mechanism restores status, and unlocks the list or queue only when the identified task is active again and the instruction which had been executing the list processing operation is again executing.

Abstract: Improved task handling apparatus for a computer system where the task dispatcher is selectively operable under instruction control for performing task queue selection and where the intertask communication mechanism can return a task dispatching element (TDE) to a non-prime task dispatching queue (TDQ) as well as to the prime TDQ. Whenever a TDE is returned to the prime TDQ, the task dispatcher makes a pre-emptive task switch. Also, if there are no task dispatching elements on the current non-prime TDQ, the task dispatcher switches to dispatch TDE's from the prime TDQ.

Abstract: Synchronous and conditional inter-program control apparatus in a computer system is structured to temporarily suspend execution of an invoking program and to transfer processor control to an invoked program. Such transfer is initiated by a transfer initiation means which interacts with a function control means of a function control array and provides symbolic identification of an entry point in the invoked program and conditionally continuing the transfer mechanism. The function control means addresses call return elements (CRE's) when it is in an execute mode but transfers processor control back to the invoking program when it is in a by-pass mode. CRE's that are in an available, data-receivable state are chained on an available call return queue (ACQ) and may be removed therefrom and placed on a task dispatching element (TDE) on an as-needed basis through a receive message mechanism.

Abstract: Task handling apparatus in a computer system is structured to be common to system control tasks, user tasks and I/O tasks. Although the task handling apparatus contains a task priority structure, all tasks are handled in the same manner, and there are no fixed interrupt levels for I/O tasks. There are N levels of priority, and N is variable. Each task is a server for a functional request. Task dispatching elements (TDE's) are enqueued in priority sequence on a task dispatching queue (TDQ). A task dispatcher functions to dispatch the highest priority TDE on the TDQ, if any, and to perform task switching. Intertask communication is accomplished by send message, send count, receive message and receive count mechanisms, and is coupled with task synchronization. Task synchronization is achieved by dequeueing and enqueueing TDE's on the TDQ. An active task becomes inactive dispatchable when a higher priority TDE is enqueued on the TDQ by send message or send count mechanisms.