Abstract: Medical drain lines tend to become clogged with blood or pus and thereafter lose their efficacy. Devices can be used for stripping blockages from medical drainage lines. For example, this document describes various devices that can be manually operated to progressively compress (along the length of the drain line) a surgical drain line to forcibly strip out blockages from within the drain line.

Abstract: Medical drain lines tend to become clogged with blood or pus and thereafter lose their efficacy. Devices can be used for stripping blockages from medical drainage lines. For example, this document describes various devices that can be manually operated to progressively compress (along the length of the drain line) a surgical drain line to forcibly strip out blockages from within the drain line.

Abstract: A three-wheeled leaning passenger vehicle comprises a frame rigidly mounting a passenger seat; a rear wheel rotatably mounted on the frame in a rearward region thereof; a frame-mounted rotary drive cooperatively coupled with the rear wheel for rotation of the rear wheel relative to the frame; and a frame-mounted coast/steer system including two front wheels freely rotatable relative to the frame in a forward region thereof, and a handlebar coupled with the two front wheels for turning the two front wheels in a plane defined by their rotational axes substantially parallel with one another to corner, the vehicle being configured to substantially freely lean left and right in a natural response to a driver thereof in the driver seat steering the vehicle and leaning respectively left and right, and, alternatively or additionally, to have controlled leaning in response to a hydraulically or otherwise provisioned front-wheel suspension subsystem.

Abstract: A system and method for providing Emergency Alert System (EAS) notifications over Internet Protocol (IP) delivery platforms, including a proxy server coupled to an emergency alert system receiver, a subscriber management database coupled to the proxy server, and an instant messaging server coupled to the proxy server and to the subscriber management server.

Abstract: A three-wheeled leaning passenger vehicle comprises a frame rigidly mounting a passenger seat; a drive wheel rotatably mounted on the frame preferably in a rearward region thereof; a frame-mounted rotary drive cooperatively coupled with the drive wheel for rotation of the drive wheel relative to the frame; and a frame-mounted coast/steer system including two rotatable and preferably front wheels freely rotatable relative to the frame in a forward region thereof, and a handlebar coupled with the two front wheels for turning the two rotatable wheels in a plane defined by their rotational axes substantially parallel with one another to corner, the vehicle being configured to substantially freely lean left and right in a natural response to a driver thereof in the driver seat steering the vehicle and leaning respectively left and right, and, alternatively or additionally, to have controlled leaning in response to a hydraulically or otherwise provisioned leaning, suspension, and stand-up mechanisms.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for detecting a voltage potential from a tissue membrane. The device includes an input circuit, an output circuit and a digital signal processor. The input circuit receives a membrane voltage potential from an electrode. The output circuit receives an output command signal and provides a current output signal to the electrode. The digital signal processor is coupled to the input circuit and the output circuit. The digital signal processor provides the output command signal, and waits a delay period prior to receiving the membrane voltage signal from the input circuit.

Abstract: A dynamically configurable clamping device for applying a desired electrical current to a tissue membrane includes an input lead electrically connected to the tissue membrane to provide a sensed signal indicative of voltage across the membrane. An input circuit includes an analog-to-digital converter, and is responsive to the sensed signal and provides a digitized signal indicative of the sensed signal. A digital signal processor executes selected program instructions to operate in a selected one of (i) a voltage clamp mode, (ii) a current clamp mode or (iii) a dynamic clamp mode based upon the state of a mode selection signal indicative of the selected operating mode. The digital signal processor provides a digital current command signal indicative of the current to be applied to the tissue membrane. An output circuit receives the digital current command signal, and generates a current signal indicative thereof. An output lead receives and applies the current signal to the tissue membrane.

Abstract: An indirect black liquor concentrator uses recirculating flow black liquor through a heat exchangers, employing flue gas for heat. The heated liquor is flashed, to provide steam and concentrate the liquor.

Abstract: An air port damper system for a recovery boiler employs plural louvers for altering the exit angle of air through an air port. Dampers are provided to enable adjustment of the flow through the device. Suitably, the device may be retracted away from the air port, to enable manual or automatic cleaning of the port. Further the damper system can be removed for maintenance/service purposes, without requiring shut-down of the boiler.

Abstract: A smelt spout cleaner apparatus includes a cleaning head insertable into a smelt spout and movable in a substantially linear path along the smelt spout for thoroughly cleaning the spout. The cleaning head is mounted on one end of a substantially horizontal beam, the opposite end of which is supported in cantilever fashion to a support base which is selectably movable. The support base includes means for longitudinally translating the beam and causing the cleaning head to move in a linear path along the length of the smelt spout.

Abstract: An optical scanner (100) includes a rotating scanner disk (116) that integrates a multifocal Fresnel fixation lens (114), a Fresnel optical scanner (122, 124), and an angular position encoder (140) into a unitary, inherently aligned, compression-molded component. An individual being identified views through the multifocal Fresnel fixation lens an image of a pinhole (108) illuminated by a light source (104). The multifocal lens is centered on the disk and creates multiple in- and out-of-focus images (180, 182, 184, 186) of the pinhole image. The combined image appears to the individual as a set of circular images (190, 192, 194, 196), one of which is in focus. The images appear concentric when the individual is properly aligned with the disk and associated optics. The Fresnel optical scanner receives IR light from the light source and creates an IR scanning beam (126) when the disk is rotated.

Abstract: Damper apparatus for air ports of a chemical recovery furnace is mounted on a removable windbox faceplate. Damper blades extend from cantilevered arms pivoted at the forward side of the faceplate, with the damper blades being otherwise unsupported, i.e., they are not confined to travel in tracks within the windbox. Rather, a spring or counterweight urges the damper blades against the air port opening whereby the whole mechanism is free for removal as a unit with the faceplate. Cooperatively operable air port cleaning apparatus is also mounted on the faceplate.

Abstract: Damper apparatus for air ports of a chemical recovery furnace is mounted on a removable windbox faceplate. Damper blades extend from a cantilevered arm pivoted at the forward side of the faceplate, with the damper blades being otherwise unsupported, i.e., they are not confined to travel in tracks within the windbox. Rather, a counterweight urges the damper blades against the air port opening whereby the whole mechanism is free for removal as a unit with the faceplate. Cooperatively operable air port cleaning apparatus is also mounted on the faceplate.

Abstract: Apparatus for regulating air flow through an air port in a chemical recovery furnace. A plenum having an adjustable damper mounted inside a wind box associated with the furnace adjacent to the air port supplies and regulates the flow of air from the wind box to the furnace through the air port. A metal cleaning head adapted for rotatable insertion into the air port for cleaning excrescent material from the peripheral edges of the air port without blocking air flow through the port is pivotally mounted in a retracted, at-rest position adjacent to and above the air port so as not to interfere with movement of the adjustable damper. During a cleaning cycle, the damper is moved to a retracted position on the floor of the plenum so as not to interfere with the moving cleaning head. A short stroke, double articulated damper positioning mechanism facilitates movement of the damper blade in limited space.

Abstract: Removable apparatus for regulating air flow through an air port in a chemical recovery furnace. A plenum mounted adjacent an air port inside a wind box associated with the furnace supplies combustion air from the wind box to the furnace through the air port, and an adjustable damper mounted inside the plenum regulates the velocity and quantity of air flowing through the plenum. An access port in the plenum allows viewing of the air port opening through the plenum. An actuating mechanism withdraws the damper from the field of view to a retracted position wherein the damper depends from the top of the plenum chamber spaced apart from the air port opening. For airflow damping, the actuating mechanism moves the retracted damper toward the air port opening until the damper is adjacent to the opening; then a positioning mechanism pivots the damper to a predetermined position in the air stream adjacent the opening.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for identifying individuals through the ocular reflectance pattern from the fundus of the eye. A fixation target is provided for positioning and focusing the eye of an individual along its visual axis, being centered on the fovea of the eye. An infrared source provides a substantially collimated source beam of infrared radiation. A scanner directs the infrared radiation into the fixated eye from a plurality of sequential angularly divergent positions forming a substantially circular locus of points substantially centered on the fovea. The light is reflected in part out of the eye and forms a reflected beam. A detector measures the intensity of the radiation reflected from the eye at each sequential location, the intensities being recorded as an identification pattern. At a later date the eye may be presented again to the apparatus in a different rotational position about its visual axis and another pattern generated.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for acquiring and recording an identification pattern from the reflectance of the fundus of an eye, a single light source is operable to produce a substantially columnar source beam of infrared light directed into the fixated eye from a plurality of sequential, angularly divergent positions. The light is focused on the retina and reflected in part out of the eye. Variations in the ocular structure contribute to various reflected intensities. The intensity of the reflected light is detected, measured and recorded for each sequential angularly divergent position forming a unique and repeatable identification pattern, or "signature" for each individual.

Abstract: Method for identifying a person comprises obtaining his retinal vasculature intercept pattern by causing the person's eye to become fixated, scanning the fixated eye with a light source arranged in a selected pattern, and detecting that portion of the light source pattern which is reflected off of the person's retina, thereby locating each intercept of the light source pattern with a blood vessel. The intercept pattern thus obtained is stored for future recall and comparison with a subsequently obtained pattern for verifying identification of the person. The apparatus comprises a fixation light source for fixating the person's eye, a flying spot light source having 360 individual light-emitting diodes arranged in a dual concentric circular pattern and having a light source driver arranged for illuminating and then darkening each of the light-emitting diodes in a rapid sequential manner for scanning the eye, and a photodetector for detecting the reflected portion of the light source pattern.