Abstract: A needle guide for an ultrasound guidance system. The needle guide may be included as part of a sterile kit for an ultrasound probe. The kit includes a shell and a sheath which form a sterile cover for the ultrasound probe. The needle guide is used to guide a needle into a body using the ultrasound probe.

Abstract: A sterile cover for an ultrasound guidance system. The sterile cover may be included as part of a sterile kit for an ultrasound probe. The kit includes the sterile cover and a needle guide for use with the sterile cover. The sterile cover includes a shell and a sheath connected to the shell. The shell receives the head of the probe and the needle clip. The sheath covers the remainder of the probe.

Abstract: An adaptive landing gear system for use in an aircraft includes a plurality of leveling struts. Each leveling strut includes an adaptive portion and landing pad. Each adaptive portion includes a fluid reservoir. A change in the volume of fluid in the fluid reservoir is configured to cause a change in extension of the corresponding landing pad. The adaptive portion of each leveling strut is in fluidic connection with the adaptive portion of at least one other leveling strut. The system includes a plurality of valves between the adaptive portions. Compression of the leveling strut forces fluid from the adaptive portion into the adaptive portion of at least one other leveling strut to extend the landing pad of the at least one other leveling strut. The valves prevent fluid from flowing back into the adaptive portion after compression.

Abstract: A medicament dispensing cabinet is comprised of a frame, at least one controller, and a plurality of drawers each movably carried by the frame and each defining a plurality of dispensing cells. A plurality of removable dispensing devices is provided with each one carried by one of the dispensing cells. Each of the dispensing cells further comprises a motor for providing rotary motion to one of the removable dispensing devices in response to the controller, a sensor operating in conjunction with the controller for counting medicament dispensed from one of the removable dispensing devices, a chute for receiving medicament dispensed from one of the removable dispensing devices and a chute gate for controlling access to the chute. The cabinet may additionally comprise a chute gate release responsive to the controller for controlling the chute gate and a chute gate sensor connected to the controller and responsive to the position of the chute gate.

Abstract: A passenger airbag module includes opposite side walls connected by a rear wall. The side walls each include at least one inward projection that traps a semi-cylindrical retainer between the projections and the rear wall. The retainer holds the inflator and airbag within the housing. End walls connect the side walls with interlocking channels thereby preventing the side walls from releasing the retainer, inflator and airbag.

Abstract: A compact ultrasound needle guidance system and method of use is described. The needle guidance system has components to adjustably target a needle's destination in the plane of a two-dimensional ultrasound image before insertion of a needle into a patient. Needle movement is tracked using a position detector that provides a visual display of the needle path on the ultrasonic image.

Abstract: A compact ultrasound needle guidance system and method of use is described. The needle guidance system has components to adjustably target a needle's destination in the plane of a two-dimensional ultrasound image before insertion of a needle into a patient. Needle movement is tracked using a position detector that provides a visual display of the needle path on the ultrasonic image.

Abstract: A system for controlling inbound transition of an aircraft includes a fuselage and first and second freewings pivotably mounted on opposing sides thereof. The system includes an airspeed sensor that outputs an airspeed indication signal. The system includes a controller for increasing aircraft engine thrust to substantially maximum for inbound transition, and for generating pitch and freewing control signals. The system includes actuators for actuating aircraft control surfaces in response to the pitch control signal to rapidly increase pitch of the fuselage to decelerate the aircraft, and for actuating freewing control surfaces in response to the freewing control signal to adjust lift produced by the freewings to oppose climbing of the aircraft due to the increase in engine thrust and the increase in the fuselage pitch. The controller is configured to decrease the engine thrust as the aircraft decelerates until the aircraft is in a hover mode.

Abstract: A compact ultrasound needle guidance system and method of use is described. The needle guidance system has components to adjustably target a needle's destination in the plane of a two-dimensional ultrasound image before insertion of a needle into a patient. Needle movement is tracked using a position detector that provides a visual display of the needle path on the ultrasonic image.

Abstract: A syringe interface for attaching syringes to a drive mechanism which includes a drive member to impart motion to a syringe plunger includes a plurality of syringe mount apertures having different dimensions to attach each of a plurality of syringes to the syringe interface. Each of the syringes for attachment to the syringe interface includes at least one mounting flange, and each of the plurality of syringes has a different mounting flange dimension. Each of the plurality of syringe mount apertures is in general alignment with an axis of the drive member. A syringe drive mechanism includes a syringe interface as described above. The syringe drive mechanism can further include a sensing system to sense which size of the plurality of syringes is mounted on the syringe interface. The syringe drive mechanism can also include a processor and a memory which are in operative communication with the drive member. The memory includes a control program stored therein.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for ashort take-off and landing/vertical take-off and landing aircraft that stores required take-off power in the form of primarily an electric fan engine, and secondarily in the form of an internal combustion engine, wherein the combined power of the electric fan and internal combustion engines can cause the STOL/VTOL A/C to take-off in substantially less amount of time and space than other STOL/VTOL A/C, and further wherein the transition from vertical to horizontal thrust is carefully executed to rapidly rise from the take-off position to a forward flight position, thereby minimizing the necessity for a larger electric fan engine.

Abstract: A Fizeau interferometer is provided with an adaptive null optic whose shape may be selectively varied in a controllable way by the selective application of external mechanical loads to enable the interferometer to be dynamically adapted to testing a variety of aspherical segments of differing shapes without the need for providing individual reference surfaces to match the various shapes of each test segment.

Abstract: A vibration isolation engine mount system and method for ducted fan aircraft, such as ducted fan vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft, includes an engine for driving the ducted fan. The system includes an engine support structure for supporting the engine within the ducted fan. A rotor of the ducted fan is coupled to an engine shaft of the engine via a rotor hub. The system includes a plurality of vibration isolators configured to mount the engine to the engine support structure. Each of the plurality of vibration isolators is substantially concentrically oriented along a surface of a sphere. A center of the sphere is located at a center of the rotor hub.

Abstract: A method of dispensing medicaments may employ a drug dispensing device comprised of an upper hopper having an upper opening for receiving a medicament and a lower opening. The drug dispensing device also includes a lower hopper having an upper opening and a lower opening in a bottom portion thereof. The upper hopper defines a bulk storage chamber and the lower hopper defines a dispensing chamber. A rotatable dispensing disc is positioned in a lower portion of the dispensing chamber for dispensing medicament from the drug dispensing device through the lower opening in the lower hopper. A regulator is situated between the bulk storage chamber and the dispensing chamber for controlling the rate at which medicament moves from the storage chamber to the dispensing chamber.

Abstract: A dispensing cabinet is comprised of a frame, a plurality of shelves movably connected to the frame at an angle with respect thereto, and a plurality of drawers with each drawer carried by one of the shelves such that each of the drawers is capable of moving between a fully open position extending outwardly and downwardly from the frame and a fully closed position. Each of the drawers carries at least one dispenser. Each of said drawers also carries a lock for locking each of the drawers to the frame when the drawers are in their respective fully closed positions. A counterbalance is provided, and each of the drawers is responsive to the counterbalance such that only one drawer at a time can be in its fully open position. A controller for controlling the dispensers and, in certain embodiments, for controlling the locks, is also provided. The counterbalance includes a cable connected at one end to a spring and fixed at another end either to the frame or to another drawer.

Abstract: A system for cooling a ducted fan aircraft engine includes a first nacelle surrounding the engine and a second nacelle substantially concentrically surrounding the first nacelle. The system includes a first spinner coupled around a base of a rotor of the ducted fan and a second spinner substantially concentrically surrounding the first spinner and forming a duct between first and second spinners. The second spinner includes an opening to allow air to flow into the duct. The rotor includes a plurality of airfoils penetrating through the first and second spinners. Each of the airfoils includes a first portion located in the duct, and a second portion located between the second spinner and a fuselage of the ducted fan. The first portions of the airfoils provide cooling airflow over the engine and structural support for the second portions. The second portions of the airfoils provide thrust for the aircraft.

Abstract: An aircraft including a ducted fan and an engine for driving the ducted fan includes a plurality of vanes movably mounted to the aircraft at a substantially rectangular exhaust end of the aircraft. Each of the plurality of vanes is substantially rectangular or square. The plurality of vanes are configured to alter an exit area of the exhaust end. The aircraft includes a sensor circuit for detecting a RPM of the engine and for outputting a RPM signal. The aircraft includes a control circuit coupled to the sensor circuit and the plurality of vanes. The control circuit is configured to actuate the plurality of vanes to alter the exit area of the exhaust end to vary a pressure load on the ducted fan to control the RPM of the engine in response to the RPM signal.

Abstract: An aircraft includes a fuselage, and first and second freewings. Each of the first and second freewings is separately mounted to the fuselage and independently freely pivotable about respective pivot axes. The aircraft includes an angular rate sensor configured to measure a roll rate of the fuselage and to output a first roll rate signal. The aircraft includes a controller in communication with the angular rate sensor and configured to receive a second roll rate signal from the pilot and to compare the first and second roll rate signals to generate first and second control surface control signals. The aircraft includes at least one control actuator in communication with the controller and configured to actuate a first control surface of the first freewing and a second control surface of the second freewing in response to the first and second control surface control signals, respectively, to control the roll rate of the aircraft.

Abstract: A drug dispensing device is comprised of an upper hopper having an upper opening for receiving a medicament and a lower opening. A lid covers the upper opening. A lower hopper having an upper opening and a lower opening in a bottom portion thereof is provided. The upper hopper defines a bulk storage chamber and the lower hopper defines a dispensing chamber. A rotatable dispensing disc is positioned in a lower portion of the dispensing chamber for dispensing medicament from the drug dispensing device through the lower opening in the lower hopper. A regulator is situated between the bulk storage chamber and the dispensing chamber for controlling the rate at which medicament moves from the storage chamber to the dispensing chamber. The regulator may take a variety of forms. In one embodiment, the regulator includes a valve for controlling the flow of medicament from the storage chamber to the dispensing chamber.

Abstract: A new cultivar of Camellia named ‘Classic Pink’ that is characterized by exceptional cold-hardiness, an attractive compact plant form with very dark glossy green foliage, and formal double very pale pink flowers which are late to bloom. In combination these traits set ‘Classic Pink’ apart from all other existing varieties of Camellia known to the inventor.