Abstract: A peristaltic pump which corrects the effects of creep on a peristaltic tube. A plurality of spring biased rollers apply a substantially constant force to pinch the tube. A pair of elastic semi-circular sections are retained throughout the entire semi-circular back wall of the peristaltic pump. The pair of elastic semi-circular sections fully restore the initial cross-section of the tube in the area of the race where the rollers are not pinching the tube.

Abstract: A sheet feeding system for feeding single sheets from a magazine containing plural sheets arranged in a stack. A vacuum type sheet pick-up mechanism picks up and deforms one end of the top most sheet to facilitate that sheets separation from the stack. Static and movable separators then act on the top most sheet to complete its separation from the stack and elevate the leading edge to bring it into contact with a friction drive mechanism. The friction drive mechanism is then activated by an external device to cause the sheet to be driven from the magazine. A programmed logic control system sequentially controls the cycling of the mechanism.

Abstract: A device and its method of operation for assisting in the advancement of an endoscope through the colon or other body passage. The device includes a sleeve having an annular chamber defined in part by an outer wall of elastomeric material. A multiplicity of resilient hollow protrusions are formed in the wall and expand outwardly and rearwardly when the chamber is filled with a suitable fluid under pressure and which retract inwardly and forwardly when the pressure of the fluid is reduced. The device extends about and is secured to the distal end portion of an endoscope and, upon repetitious expansion and retraction of the protrusions by reason of pulsing pressure fluctuations within the chamber, such device helps to advance the scope along a body passage.