Abstract: An acoustic device is provided which assists in accurate placement of a needle into a human or animal diarthrodial joint. The device includes a handpiece which mounts a needle assembly including an acoustic transducer assembly. The transducer assembly, which is incorporated into the lumen of the needle, transmits ultrasound pulses from the needle tip into the joint area and receives the ultrasound pulses that are returned. The handpiece is manipulated by the user to guide the needle during placement. The returned ultrasound pulses are processed to determine whether the needle is placed in the joint itself rather than in a location adjacent to the joint and a corresponding output is produced to aid the user in effecting proper needle placement.

Abstract: An optical device is provided which assists in accurate placement of a needle into a human or animal diarthrodial joint. The device includes a handpiece which mounts a needle assembly including an optical guide. The optical guide, which is incorporated into the lumen of the needle, transmits light from the needle tip into the joint area and receives the scattered light that is returned. The handpiece is manipulated by the user to guide the needle during placement. The returned light is processed to determine whether the needle is placed in the joint itself rather than in a location adjacent to the joint and corresponding output is produced to aid the user in effecting proper needle placement. Such placement assists in the injection of fluid into or the removal of fluid form the joint.

Abstract: A fishing reel is disclosed herein having a frame or cage rotatably supporting a spool for fishing line storage via a turning shaft provided with a driven spool gear. The frame further supports a gear housing having at least three drive gears of varying diameters in mesh with the spool gear and a rotatable crank plate carrying a crank handle which is selectively engageable with a desired one of said drive gears depending upon the speed of spool rotation desired. Limit stops are provided for limiting the extent of crank plate rotation so as to align the crank handle with a desired drive gear and a detent mechanism operates with the crank plate to indicate location of the crank handle with respect to a drive gear having a one-to-one drive ratio with respect to the spool gear.