Abstract: A surgically implantable access port has a main port body with an internal chamber formed therein, and an outlet tube connected to the main port body. The internal chamber is configured to readily receive a guide wire therein, and to passively direct the tip of a guide wire to an outlet, which is in fluid communication with the outlet tube. The chamber in the main port body is formed in a directionally aimed conical shape. The outlet may be located at the lowest area of the chamber, to help direct a guide wire thereto. A specialized needle is also described, having a curved tip with an opening formed therein. The top inner and the and the bottom outer surfaces of the needle, adjacent the tip opening, are rounded and non-sharp to avoid damaging a guide wire when used therewith. Methods of using the port and needle are also disclosed.

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 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 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 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 throttle control system employs redundant throttle signals in which faults may be detected so that control may continue using a non-faulted channel when one channel fails. Rehabilitation of the failed channel may occur when the fault condition ends, and changes in throttle setting based on that rehabilitation, are phased in gradually to prevent abrupt changes in vehicle operation. In this way, high availability and reliability are obtained.

Abstract: The present invention would be a small plastic enclosure having incorporated circuitry and a series of light emitting diodes (LEDS) covered by a plastic lens. The present invention would be designed so that the lights would blink in a random pattern so as to attract attention at night. In addition, a pair of fastening elements would be attached to the side surfaces of the battery compartment in order to assist in securing the battery compartment to the top of a helmet or hat, if so desired. Each of the fastening elements would also contain a plurality of LEDS fixedly mounted on the surface, which would also be connected up to the battery powered unit and would blink randomly. As an option, the present invention would come with an incorporated clip attached to the bottom face of the battery compartment.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the present invention, a "one-touch-up" power window system is provided for a motor vehicle. The system includes a controller which controls the power window motor. One function of the controller is to determine whether an obstruction impedes travel of the power window. The controller takes a plurality of samples of the electrical current drawn by the power window motor. If the last sample varies by more than a predetermined amount from any of the past samples taken over a predetermined distance of travel of the window, the controller concludes that an obstruction impedes the travel of the window. The controller then stops or reverses the power window motor to stop or reverse travel of the power window. In this embodiment of the present invention, distance of travel of the window can be inferred from rotations of the power window motor.

Abstract: A rear projection monitor having a housing with reduced depth is disclosed. Images produced by liquid crystal active matrices are illuminated by a light source. The images are enlarged and projected by a projection lens having a large rear focus. A mirror reflects the projected images onto a viewing screen. The mirror is positioned between 36.degree. and 45.degree. in relation to the viewing screen. The back of the housing is adjacent to and slopes at the same angle as the mirror. The depth of the projection monitor is between 33% to 41% of the diameter of the viewing screen.

Abstract: A biosensing meter receives a biomedical sample strip or a check strip, a sample strip including electrically isolated excitation and sense electrodes. The biosensing meter includes first and second contacts that are positioned to be electrically connected by a sense electrode when a sample strip is inserted into the biosensing meter. An operational amplifier circuit has one input connected to the first contact and a second input connected to a reference potential, the one input manifesting the reference potential as a result of a feedback within the operational amplifier. A processor is coupled to the second contact and determines the presence of the reference potential at the second contact when an inserted sense electrode connects the first and second contacts.

Abstract: A biosensing meter is provided that determines a value of an analyte in a biological sample. The meter employs an algorithm for determining the analyte value, which value is dependent upon ambient temperature about the biological sample when it is present in a reaction zone. The biosensing meter includes a processor and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is positioned within the meter's structure and thereby exhibits a delayed response to changes in the ambient temperature. The meter performs a temperature estimation method to overcome the delayed temperature response. The method commences by the meter repetitively and periodically acquiring temperature readings from the temperature sensor when the biosensing meter is both in an on state and in an off state. When the meter is in the on state, the algorithm estimates the ambient temperature by employing at least two most recent temperature readings and extrapolating therefrom to achieve an ambient temperature estimate.

Abstract: A fuel processing unit can dewater and heat fuel before delivery to a filter. The unit has a housing with a settling chamber and an inlet communicating with the chamber. The housing has a filter connection adapted to connect the filter in series with the chamber. The unit also has a heater cable with a predetermined length. The heater cable extends from the chamber through the inlet and outside the housing.

Abstract: A biosensing meter is enabled to receive a sample strip that includes a sample well with an analyte reactant therein and electrodes in contact therewith. The biosensing meter includes an excitation supply for supplying potentials to a sample strip electrode. A sense amplifier is also provided for connection to another electrode of an inserted sample strip and produces an output signal indicative of sensed currents when an analyte containing fluid is present in the strip's sample well. A pluggable memory key is insertable into the meter and includes a plurality of stored parameter values and procedure routines that control operations of the meter. A microprocessor is responsive to a procedure routine and parameter values accessed from the pluggable memory key to cause the excitation supply to apply a plurality of potentials for preset durations, both the values of the potentials and the time duration of their application determined from parameter values derived from the memory key.

Abstract: A biosensing meter receives a sample strip that includes electrically isolated sense and excitation electrodes bridged by a reaction zone. When a drop of biological sample fluid is placed in the reaction zone, a plurality of fail/safe tests are performed. A drop size test is performed by a circuit that detects the size of the drop placed in the reaction zone. The circuit both detects that a drop has been placed in the reaction zone and further measures a test current level, after a delay, to determine that the drop size is sufficient to enable hydration of reactants in the reaction zone. Subsequently, during the reaction, a "delta" current change is measured at succeeding sample time. This test measures the difference between succeeding current samples during a measurement time. If each succeeding sample is not less than preceding sample by a delta value, a determination is made that the current is not monotonically decreasing and the test is aborted.

Abstract: A shaped secondary blasting charge including a frustoconical container and a viscous adhesive explosive overpacked into the container. A concave cover accommodates the overloaded explosive which is removed at the blasting site. The container with the explosive is pressed against the object to be blasted causing the viscous explosive to intimately bond to the surface.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital converter employs a capacitor circuit for integrating a sample of an input signal during a predetermined interval of time and, thereafter, the capacitor is discharged at a predetermined rate until the integration voltage is equal to that of a reference. The discharge time serves as a measure of the amplitude of the input signal. A measurement interval is established which is equal to an integral number of cycles of each of the possible values of frequency of the A.C. excitation. The signal integration interval has a duration less than or approximately equal to the shortest period of the A.C. excitation, this being the period of the highest frequency A.C. excitation. The signal integration is repeated periodically at each third half-cycle of the highest frequency excitation so that the total integration time experienced during positive half cycles is equal to that experienced during negative half cycles of any of the plurality of excitation frequencies.

Abstract: A circuit is described for applying a potential to an electrode of a biosensing test cell, which electrode, when properly inserted in a female connector, is contacted by a pair spaced apart contacts. The circuit includes a source of excitation potential and an operational amplifier having one input connected to the source of excitation potential. A switching circuit is coupled between the operational amplifier and a first one of the spaced apart contacts, with the switch means exhibiting an impedance. A feedback circuit is connected between the second of the spaced-apart contacts and another input to the operational amplifier, to feed back a potential appearing at the second contact. The feedback is for the purpose of maintaining the output of the operational amplifier at a level which compensates for impedance losses in the swtiching circuit.

Abstract: A regulated power supply employs two separate sources of power which are serially connected by a variable impedance element, such as a transistor, connected between the two power sources. Output voltage of the power supply is equal to the sum of the individual power supply voltages minus a voltage drop across the variable impedance element. A sensor circuit employing standby and active mode branches is coupled between output terminals of the power supply for control of the variable impedance element. The active branch of the sensor is switchably connected to an output power terminal of the supply so as to be operative only during the active mode. The standby branch comprises a resistive network coupled to a reference diode while the active branch comprises a feedback amplifier coupled to the reference diode.

Abstract: A guide clamp (15, 80) has a channel shape which receives the first edge of a board and which forms a straight edge (31, 87) to be slid along a saw fence clamp (23) while cutting the board along a straight line (55, 56) with a table saw (11). A top arm (27, 82) of the channel includes clamping members (35, 89) which clamp the board in the guide clamp while a bottom arm (29, 83) of the channel supports the first edge of the board a fixed distance from a table surface (19) of the table saw. A separate shim (17, 96) is positioned between the opposite, or second edge of the board and the table surface to hold the second edge above the table surface said fixed distance so that the board remains level during cutting to make a true cut on the board.