Abstract: The delivery system has a control body in the form of a pendant to which oxygen is delivered and from which the oxygen is delivered to the patient. The body includes a reservoir which has a constant oxygen supply orifice. During rest conditions, the patient breathes only a portion of the reservoir contents. During physical activity, the patient breathes more deeply and inhales more oxygen from the reservoir. The reservoir has a flexible diaphragm and when breathing more deeply, the diaphragm moves to open a bolus oxygen supply valve to introduce a bolus of additional oxygen to the reservoir and thus to the patient.

Abstract: The tap driver is configured to be hand-held. It has a tap-holding chuck and a motor to drive the chuck. An external switch rocks forward to rotate the motor in the tapping direction and backward to withdraw the tap. A control circuit causes forward motion of the tap for a predetermined time for the tap to make about one forward turn for tapping. At the end of that time, the motor reverses and rotates the tap outward a fractional turn to break the chips made during tapping. The timer then turns the circuit to drive the motor in the forward direction for another tapping. This action repeats until tapping is complete and the switch is rocked back to reverse the motor to withdraw the tap.

Abstract: The motorized specimen cutter has a replaceable rotary tubular cutting tip and a motor to rotate the cutting tip. Deflection caused by proper cutting force energizes the motor with enough energy to cut a specimen. A manually or automatically actuated ejector pin ejects the sample from the cutting tip.

Abstract: The trailer hitch alignment system of the present invention includes an alerting device and a tow bar assembly for attachment to a towing vehicle. The tow bar assembly includes a photoelectric sensor for detecting the vertical alignment of a trailer tongue. The tow bar assembly has a hitch ball with a spherical top and a cylindrical body for coupling with a trailer tongue having a semi-spherical socket. In one embodiment, the photoelectric sensor is mounted on the tow bar of the tow bar assembly, adjacent to the hitch ball. In another embodiment, the hitch ball houses the photoelectric sensor within its interior. During operation, the driver of the towing vehicle typically maneuvers the vehicle toward the trailer in a rearward direction. Once the photoelectric sensor detects the vertical alignment of the socket with the ball, the alerting device is activated informing the driver of the alignment.

Abstract: One or more physical activity sensors, such as pressure switches, position sensors and accelerometers, as well as a breath sensor are connected to control a valve. The valve is electrically actuated and has first and second states. A control circuit between the sensors and the valve increase actuation of the valve when continuing activity is sensed. The valve has a single coil and is bistable so that it does not require continuous energization in either state. The fluid is preferably respiratory oxygen so that more oxygen is delivered when the person is active.

Abstract: The present invention includes a sleeve for use with a device for collecting and transporting biological specimens. The sleeve comprises a tubular member for containing the bottom portion of the collection device and a lever so as to exert pressure to the collection device so as to break the ampoule, The sleeve provides an environment to maintain the substantial viability of a specimen during transport in a collection device.

Abstract: The present invention is a device and method for collecting and transporting biological specimens. The device provides an environment for maintaining substantial validity of a specimen during transport. The device comprises a tubular housing with an ampoule containing medium, a specimen collector and a sleeve positioned over the tubular housing. The sleeve is used to effectively break the ampoule so as to release medium into the tubular housing so as to keep a specimen substantially viable during transport.

Abstract: The cushion has a contoured base with a layer of resilient cushion foam thereover. The cushion foam is of uniform thickness over a substantial part of the base and is suitably covered. The shape is such that the buttocks of the seated person are clasped positioned rather than supported. A recess is provided under the ischia, under the trochanters, and beneath the sciatic nerves to limit the local pressure. In one configuration, these recesses may contain air bladders which are inflated by body motion against a back bladder in the cushion. In another embodiment, the various bladders may be sequentially pressurized to shift the bearing areas under the buttocks of the seated user in order to periodically lift the user for stimulating blood circulation.

Abstract: A quick acting diversion valve can be constructed so that a pressure difference between the sides of a bistable diaphragm can be used to cause the diaphragm to change in configuration so as to move a valve body in a housing in order to change the manner in which passages or ports in the housing are connected.

Abstract: A feedback type of diversion valve which can be used to sequentially "operate" or "activate" fluid responive structures such as tubes of a pillow.

Abstract: A process for constructing a building by forming a plurality of individual panels with each panel being of a length and height so as to constitute one wall or one roof section of the building, securing studding in a predetermined pattern to each of said individual panels, and assembling the insulated panels together in situ so as to construct a building having walls and a roof. Further, a means is provided for forming the wall of an insulated panel with the placement of studding in a predetermined pattern with said studding being laminated to the panel so as to form the basic wall structure.

Abstract: An apparatus which minimizes the amount of oxygen needed to maintain a specific oxygen level in the blood of an individual can be constructed so as to use a transducer and other circuit components to obtain a first series of pulses or signals corresponding to the individual's breathing. A divider or counter processes the signals or pulses of the first series to create a second series of pulses or signals corresponding to periodic pulses or signals of the first series. The pulses or signals of the second series are used to periodically open a valve to deliver oxygen to the individual at about the start of the person's periodic breathing cycles.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in oxygen therapy can be constructed so as to include a gas holder appearing more or less as a pendant which includes a variable volume internal chamber and so as to use a line for continuously delivering oxygen to the holder and a conduit for conveying gas between a person using the apparatus and the holder. During use on exhalation the initially exhaled gas will flow through cannula carried by the conduit and the conduit into the holder so as to expand the variable volume chamber. When it is filled the remaining expired gas will be vented to the ambient. As the holder is filled the expired gas within it will be mixed with a limited amount of oxygen and thereafter during exhalation the oxygen supply will displace the expired gas in the conduit so that it flows outwardly from the cannula to be picked up by the expired air being vented to the ambient.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering oxygen to a patient is preferably constructed so as to include an elongted, deformable receptacle having an open side extending along its length, a flexible, "floppy" diaphragm secured at its edge so as to seal off or enclose the open side of the receptacle and a retainer for protecting and for limiting expansion of the diaphragm located along the side of the diaphragm remote from the receptacle. As the apparatus is used, oxygen is constantly delivered to the extremities of the receptacle through appropriate supply lines. On exhalation exhaled gas is forced by the pressure of the breath through a cannula--preferably a nasal cannula--into the interior of the receptacle remote from the supply lines. This cannula is used so that gas can flow. This exhaled gas is used to force the diaphragm against the retainer, opening up the interior of the receptacle in an amount such that some of the exhaled gas will be held in the receptacle.

Abstract: A patient breathing apparatus is disclosed which includes a liquid drain connected to receive liquid condensation. The drain includes a barrier which is water permeable and gas impermeable when wet. The barrier may be provided with a water soluble layer that is gas impermeable when dry.

Abstract: The changer includes a filter supporting frame attached to a supply spool containing fresh filter material and a take-up spool for storing the clogged filter material. The frame is substantially rectangular in shape and has attached thereto a sensor switch which is disposed medially of the frame and the filter material disposed thereacross. The switch is actuated when the filter material becomes clogged to a point where deflection of the material in response to circulating air flow occurs. The switch actuates a drive motor attached to the take-up spool causing the take-up spool to wind the clogged material thereon thereby replacing it with clean filter material from the supply spool. The filter material itself contains transverse enlarged linear elements which are longitudinally spaced along the filter material at intervals equivalent to the width of the frame. The enlarged areas actuate a switch which causes cessation of the motor drive, thereby insuring accurate placement of the fresh filter material.

Abstract: A testing apparatus in which a vacuum holder mounted on a carrier is used to hold a specimen on the carrier as the carrier is moved from a first location to another location where the specimen is deposited can be modified so that the vacuum supplied to the vacuum holder is used to actuate a pump so as to dispense a predetermined quantity of fluid each time the carrier is in such another location. Such a modified apparatus can be utilized in medical testing in dispensing a reagent into an appropriate receptacle such as a test tube serving as a receiving means for the specimen. Such a structure is advantageous because it utilizes a single vacuum source for both holding a specimen on a carrier and for dispensing a liquid.