Abstract: A wrappable sterile radiation shield drape, a wrappable sterile radiation shield drape in combination with a radiation shield, and a method of providing a sterile surface about a suspended radiation shield is provided. The drape includes a flexible wall having a sterilized outer surface. The wall has opposite side edges extending between upper and lower ends. The upper end has an everted portion providing an inverted pocket. The wall includes an upper fastener adjacent its upper end. The upper fastener is configured to releasably fix the upper end of the wall relative to the radiation shield. The wall further includes an edge fastener adjacent at least one of its side edges. The edge fastener is configured for releasable attachment adjacent the opposite side edge to releasably maintain the wall in a wrapped configuration about the radiation shield with the side edges being releasably maintained in overlapping relation with one another.

Abstract: A sterile radiation shield drape configured to be disposed about a radiation shield while the radiation shield is hanging from a support at its top end and extending to a free bottom end is provided. The radiation shield drape includes a circumferentially continuous wall having a sterilized outer surface and an inner surface extending between an upper end and a lower end. The inner surface circumferentially bounds a cavity sized for receipt of the radiation shield. The upper end has an everted edge providing at least one pocket extending along the upper end and further includes at least one fastener provided adjacent the upper end. The at least one fastener is configured to releasably fix the circumferentially continuous wall about the radiation shield.

Abstract: A surgical drape and method of providing a sterile surface therewith is provided. The drape is configured to cover an upper portion of a radiation shield and includes a flexible wall providing a cavity sized to receive the upper portion of the radiation shield. The flexible wall has a rear wall portion configured to cover at least in part a rear portion of the radiation shield and a front wall portion configured to cover a front portion of the radiation shield. The front wall portion extends to an upper front free edge and the rear wall portion extends to an upper rear free edge. At least one fastener is attached to at least one of the front and rear wall portions adjacent respective ones of the upper front free edge and rear free edge. The fastener is configured to releasably fix the front and rear walls to the radiation shield.

Abstract: A potential collision is predicted by comparing estimates of the time-to-brake (TTB) and the time-to-turn (TTT) of a host vehicle with a computed time-to-collision (TTC). The collision is deemed to be unavoidable when the smaller of TTB and TTT is greater than TTC. The TTT estimate is based in part on the lateral acceleration capability of the vehicle, and the lateral acceleration is initialized to a low value corresponding to its instantaneous capability, and is set incrementally higher than the actual lateral acceleration when the driver initiates evasive turning. The TTT and TTB estimates are increased by the time required to pre-charge the vehicle brakes so that brake pre-charging can be automatically initiated when required to optimize collision mitigation due to braking.

Abstract: Apparatus for enabling the use of a computer mouse at a sterile surgical site comprises a pouch for the accommodation of the mouse and an inlet sleeve forming an inlet passage into the pouch. The pouch and sleeve are formed of pliable, preferably transparent sterilizable material. When the mouse has been admitted to the pouch via the passage, the sleeve may be separated from the pouch and the open mouth of the latter rolled to form a seal, thereby retaining the mouse within the pouch.

Abstract: An electromagnetic survey method for surveying an area that potentially contains a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir. The method comprises detecting a detector signal in response to a source electromagnetic signal, resolving the detector signal along at least two orthogonal directions, and comparing phase measurements of the detector signal resolved along these directions to look for a phase separation anomaly indicative of the presence of a buried hydrocarbon layer. The invention also relates to planning a survey using this method, and to analysis of survey data taken using this survey method. The first and second data sets may be obtained concurrently with a single horizontal electric dipole source antenna. The method is also largely independent of a source-detector pair's relative orientation and so provides for good spatial coverage and easy-to-perform surveying.

Abstract: A compressed data table is formed from an uncompressed data table by defining a code description bit structure having a code type and a run length of data items. The code type may be configured to identify byte-length data items, word-length data items and/or one or more user-specified data items. Each run of one or more byte-length, word-length or user-specified data items in the uncompressed data table is represented in the compressed data table with a code description bit structure having an appropriately configured code type and having its run length equal to the number of byte-length, word-length or user-specified data items in the run of one or more byte-length or word-length data items, and in the case of byte-length and word-length data items each code description bit structure is followed in the compressed data table by the one or more byte-length or word-length data items.

Abstract: Apparatus for enabling the use of a computer mouse at a sterile surgical site comprises a pouch for the accommodation of the mouse and an inlet sleeve forming an inlet passage into the pouch. The pouch and sleeve are formed of pliable, preferably transparent sterilizable material. When the mouse has been admitted to the pouch via the passage, the sleeve may be separated from the pouch and the open mouth of the latter rolled to form a seal, thereby retaining the mouse within the pouch.

Abstract: An electromagnetic survey method for surveying an area that potentially contains a subterranean hydrocarbon reservoir. The method comprises detecting a detector signal in response to a source electromagnetic signal, resolving the detector signal along at least two orthogonal directions, and comparing phase measurements of the detector signal resolved along these directions to look for a phase separation anomaly indicative of the presence of a buried hydrocarbon layer. The invention also relates to planning a survey using this method, and to analysis of survey data taken using this survey method. The first and second data sets may be obtained concurrently with a single horizontal electric dipole source antenna. The method is also largely independent of a source-detector pair's relative orientation and so provides for good spatial coverage and easy-to-perform surveying.

Abstract: This is a device that controls centrifugal force to produce variable linear force in a direction that may be altered at any time by the operator. All moveable parts ride on bearings, and the negative forces that are created by rotating the weighted arms inward are counteracted by other weighted arms rotating outward, or positive forces, so that the device can operate on a relatively small power supply. The device is comprised of a fixed single Main shaft which is attached to the frame. Said shaft has two collars held in place by bearings, thus are independent of said shaft. Each collar has a sprocket attached to it and is controlled by an outside means. One collar is a drive collar that will rotate continuously at a set speed. The second collar is a steering collar which will remain in a fixed position until the operator decides to adjust speed or course. The drive collar has at least 4 Primary arms that extend perpendicular from the Main shaft.

Abstract: The cage comprises a metal support framework and plastic panels that define trays for containing live-poultry. Horizontal floor panels of the trays are domed and slitted to prevent pooling of water. Vertical fence panels are formed as open lattice boxes, combining good containment with good ventilation. Openable doors for the trays have a double-detent camming action, whereby the doors snap to open or snap to closed, whichever is closer. The cage is lifted on/off a truck with a fork lift.

Abstract: A protective cover for removable attachment to an objective lens housing of a draped surgical microscope has a primary, annular retainer of such size as to encircle and engage the lens housing. The retainer has an external frusto-spherical surface and an internal surface capable of seating on and snugly engaging the lens housing. The retainer removably supports a transparent shield for protecting the lenses in the lens housing. A secondary annular retainer encircles the primary retainer and has an internal surface which seats on and is supported by the external surface of the primary retainer. The secondary retainer removably accommodates a second transparent shield forming a closure for the secondary retainer. The second retainer is axially, rotatably, and rockably adjustable relative to the primary retainer for minimizing the transmission of glare to the microscope.

Abstract: A protective cover for removable attachment to an objective lens housing of a draped surgical microscope has a primary, annular retainer of such size as to encircle and engage the lens housing. The retainer has an external frusto-spherical surface and an internal surface capable of seating on and snugly engaging the lens housing. The retainer removably supports a transparent shield for protecting the lenses in the lens housing. A secondary annular retainer encircles the primary retainer and has an internal surface which seats on and is supported by the external surface of the primary retainer. The secondary retainer removably accommodates a second transparent shield forming a closure for the secondary retainer. The second retainer is axially, rotatably, and rockably adjustable relative to the primary retainer for minimizing the transmission of glare to the microscope.

Abstract: A sterile drape for enclosing an ophthalmoscopic lens housing projecting from a surgical microscope has a wall defining a chamber of such size as to accommodate the lens housing and supporting parts. The chamber communicates with a compartment in which the lens housing may be accommodated and supported in an appropriate position. The compartment has transparent plates at its opposite ends and the chamber wall adjacent the opening has a circular lens which may underlie a microscope. The compartment plates and the circular lens enable the image to be transmitted from a surgical site without distortion while maintaining a sterile environment at such site.

Abstract: A sterile drape for enclosing an ophthalmoscopic lens housing projecting from a surgical microscope has a wall defining a chamber of such size as to accommodate the lens housing and supporting parts. The chamber communicates with a compartment in which the lens housing may be accommodated and supported in an appropriate position. The compartment has transparent plates at its opposite ends and the chamber wall adjacent the opening has a circular lens which may underlie a microscope. The compartment plates and the circular lens enable the image to be transmitted from a surgical site without distortion while maintaining a sterile environment at such site.

Abstract: A compressed data table is formed from an uncompressed data table by defining a code description bit structure having a code type and a run length of data items. The code type may be configured to identify byte-length data items, word-length data items and/or one or more user-specified data items. Each run of one or more byte-length, word-length or user-specified data items in the uncompressed data table is represented in the compressed data table with a code description bit structure having an appropriately configured code type and having its run length equal to the number of byte-length, word-length or user-specified data items in the run of one or more byte-length or word-length data items, and in the case of byte-length and word-length data items each code description bit structure is followed in the compressed data table by the one or more byte-length or word-length data items.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for folding pliable sheet material wherein the sheet material is wound on a mandrel to form a roll which subsequently is stripped off the mandrel and transferred to a pleating station at which successive creases are formed in the roll to produce a pleated packet. During the winding of the sheet material the latter is adhered to the mandrel by the application of negative air pressure to the material via the mandrel. Following the formation of the roll, the application of negative air pressure is discontinued and positive air pressure is applied to the interior of the roll so as to facilitate stripping of the roll from the mandrel. At the pleating station the roll is creased successively to form a plurality of pleats and the direction in which the creasing proceeds is such as to facilitate the escape of air from the roll as it is pleated.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for folding pliable sheet material wherein the sheet material is wound on a mandrel to form a roll which subsequently is stripped off the mandrel and transferred to a pleating station at which successive creases are formed in the roll to produce a pleated packet. During the winding of the sheet material the latter is adhered to the mandrel by the application of negative air pressure to the material via the mandrel. Following the formation of the roll, the application of negative air pressure is discontinued and positive air pressure is applied to the interior of the roll so as to facilitate stripping of the roll from the mandrel. At the pleating station the roll is creased successively to form a plurality of pleats and the direction in which the creasing proceeds is such as to facilitate the escape of air from the roll as it is pleated.

Abstract: A dual spring hold down for use with wood working tools, such as table saws, routers and shapers comprises a bracket mounted on the wood working table behind the tool and a hold down bar pivotably attached to the bracket with the hold down bar surrounding the wood working tool. A threaded rod is threaded into and extends upward from an extension arm of the bracket and though a slot in a hold down bar cross plate. A first coil spring surrounds the threaded rod immediately above the cross plate and a second, stronger coil spring surrounds the threaded rod above the first coil spring while a cylindrical sleeve surrounds the first coil spring. The hold down bar is free to drop down to act as a safety barrier when no wood panel is present. Then, initial lifting of the hold down bar by a wood panel is initially against the relatively light downward bias of the first coil spring until the sleeve is lifted to a “hold down height” at a point sufficient to compress the first coil spring within the sleeve.

Abstract: Fluid collection apparatus comprises a body formed of flexible material defining a chamber divided by partitions into a plurality of compartments. One of the compartments is connected by an inlet to a source of fluid which, when admitted to such compartment, enables the body to erect from a collapsed condition to an erected condition. As fluid rises in the compartment to which it is admitted, it reaches the level of openings which permit fluid to flow from the inlet compartment into adjacent compartments, and thereby erect the entire body.