Abstract: A method for making a curved tungsten alloy suture needle comprising the step of heating tungsten alloy needle blanks or a tungsten alloy suture needle to a temperature below the recrystallization temperature of the alloy. The tungsten alloy suture needles described herein have a desirable combination of stiffness, strength, ductility, and surface color.

Abstract: A method of stress relieving drilled surgical needles is disclosed. At least the metal about a drilled bore hole is heat treated to relieve stress without annealing.

Abstract: A novel method of characterizing laser drilled boreholes is disclosed. The method uses x-ray microscopy for dimensional characterization. The x-ray output may be processed to control manufacturing equipment in automated production systems, including laser drilling systems and swaging apparatus.

Abstract: A novel method of characterizing laser drilled boreholes is disclosed. The method uses x-ray microscopy for dimensional characterization. The x-ray output may be processed to control manufacturing equipment in automated production systems, including laser drilling systems and swaging apparatus.

Abstract: A novel method of characterizing laser drilled boreholes is disclosed. The method uses x-ray microscopy for dimensional characterization. The x-ray output may be processed to control manufacturing equipment in automated production systems, including laser drilling systems and swaging apparatus.

Abstract: A method of stress relieving drilled surgical needles is disclosed. At least the metal about a drilled bore hole is heat treated to relieve stress without annealing.

Abstract: A method for making a curved tungsten alloy suture needle comprising the step of heating tungsten alloy needle blanks or a tungsten alloy suture needle to a temperature below the recrystallization temperature of the alloy. The tungsten alloy suture needles described herein have a desirable combination of stiffness, strength, ductility, and surface color.

Abstract: An electrical connector for a cardiac device is disclosed. The connector has a wire and an electrode at the distal end of the wire. The wire is attached to a patch, and the patch is coated with an adhesive film for adhering the patch to tissue. The preferred connector is a bipolar temporary cardiac pacing wire. The use of an adhesive film eliminates or reduces the need for suturing the patch to tissue, thus avoiding or significantly reducing tissue trauma associated with suturing.

Abstract: A detachable tail for a trailer which has a pair of female receiving sockets disposed in the trailer and also includes a pair of male extension members attached to the front thereof with pin receiving portions thereon for being received in the pair of female receiving sockets. Pins are operatively provided for being received in a pin receiving portion of the male extension members for holding the tail to the trailer. A rockshaft is provided for holding the pins and moving them in unison between a tail holding position to which these pins are biased and a non-holding position to allow the tail to be removed. A cam locking and moving mechanism is also provided for selectively moving the rockshaft and thereby the pins between the holding position and the non-holding position.

Abstract: In a secure digital transmission system that may utilize the Data Encryption Standard, the message signal is encrypted according to a predetermined algorithm and a key. The key is selected from a library of key material according to a key index signal. The key index signal, which is transmitted to all stations that must decrypt the message signal and therefore subject to interception, is itself encrypted at each station to form the library addresses for key selection. Even though the key selection process is initiated by a transmitted signal, security remains high because in the key selection chain, clear text and associated cypher text are not available for analysis. The key for encrypting the key index signal may itself be selected in a similar manner, thereby cascading the system any number of times for further security. A pseudorandom bit stream generated and encrypted at each station and initialized by the transmitted key index signal can address the key library to provide continually changing key.