Abstract: A reclining control system for a chair having a back and a seat including a rigid seat member having a bottom surface and a first rigid link having a first end and second end. The first end of the first rigid link may be adapted to engage the back and the second end of the first rigid link may be positioned proximally adjacent to the bottom surface of the rigid seat member. A rigid link may have a first end and a second end, where the first end of the rigid link may engage the bottom surface of the rigid seat member at an engagement point. The second end of rigid link may engage the second end of the first rigid link in an aft position. The reclining control system for a chair may further include a pivoting link having a first end and a second end. The first end of the pivoting link may engage the bottom surface of the rigid seat member at the engagement point and the second end of the pivoting link may engage the second end of the first rigid link in a fore position.

Abstract: A reclining control system for a chair having a back and a seat including a rigid seat member having a bottom surface and a first rigid link having a first end and second end. The first end of the first rigid link may be adapted to engage the back and the second end of the first rigid link may be positioned proximally adjacent to the bottom surface of the rigid seat member. A rigid link may have a first end and a second end, where the first end of the rigid link may engage the bottom surface of the rigid seat member at an engagement point. The second end of rigid link may engage the second end of the first rigid link in an aft position. The reclining control system for a chair may further include a pivoting link having a first end and a second end. The first end of the pivoting link may engage the bottom surface of the rigid seat member at the engagement point and the second end of the pivoting link may engage the second end of the first rigid link in a fore position.

Abstract: X-ray imageable articles, for instance surgical implements or parts therefore which are used in minimally invasive surgical procedures, may be prepared by a process including the steps of:

Abstract: X-ray imageable articles, for instance surgical implements or parts therefore which are used in minimally invasive surgical procedures, may be prepared by a process including the steps of: (a) preparing a mixture composition comprising: i) radiolucent particulate material selected from ceramic materials, metallurgic materials, and combinations thereof and having a particulate size of no more than 40 microns, ii) radiopaque particulate material selected from ceramic materials, metallurgic materials, and combinations thereof and having a particulate size of no more than 40 microns, and (iii) at least one polymeric binder material; (b) injection molding the mixture composition into a preform; (c) optionally removing the binder material from the preform; and (d) sintering the preform.

Abstract: A feedstock for creating cutting tools comprises a mixture of diamond particles, a binding material and a homogenizing agent that maintains the mixture of the diamond particles and binding material. In one present embodiment of the invention, the feedstock comprises diamond particles mixed with a binding agent of a brass powder and a wax or plastic homogenizing agent. The feedstock of the present invention is useful in making many types of abrasive cutting tools. One such cutting tool is an atherectomy burr for use in removing occlusions from a patient's blood vessel. A cutting tool made of the feedstock of the present invention has improved thermal conductivity compared with conventional atherectomy burrs.

Abstract: Solid objects are made by means of a novel multi-step forming, debinding, sintering and infiltrating process, using a metal-ceramic composition. In this process, the mixture is held for a period of time to degas and settle the powdered material from a liquid binder. The packed geometry is then heated to above the melting temperature of the binder to remove the binder portion of the solid geometry. Upon removal of the binder the binder-free solid geometry is raised to a temperature where the metal pre-sinters together into a three-dimensional rigid matrix with interconnected porosity to form a solid precursor. The porous matrix includes the particulate ceramic material and a first metal, which are at least partially sintered. A molten second metal is then introduced to the fill the porous matrix and form an infiltrated matrix.

Abstract: An improved snow making machine (10) is described, comprising a housing (14) and a nucleator (18) disposed inside the housing to mix compressed air with pressurized water to generate a wide angle round spray (24) pattern of ice crystal nuclei. An air hydrant heater device (12) is connected in the compressed air line (74) to heat the compressed air so that humidity present in the air will not freeze and render the nucleator inoperative at relatively low operating temperatures. A spray nozzle manifold (24) is mounted annularly around the housing discharge outlet (14A) and supports a plurality of water nozzles (28) that inject a cold water shower into the air flow, which water shower commingles with the ice crystal nuclei to thereby form ice granules as the two travel through the cold ambient air. The snow making machine can be mounted on a tower like support structure that provides for adjusting the discharge direction and tilt angle of the discharge outlet from a ground level elevation.

Abstract: An improved tower mounted snow making machine (10) that provides for covering a ski slope (48) with artificial snow (50) is described. The snow making machine comprises a housing (12) having a frusto-conical section (84) that provides for maintaining the generated velocity of a high-volume air flow out through a discharge outlet (12A) and with a nucleator (16) disposed inside the housing to generate a wide angle round spray pattern of ice crystal nuclei (21) that diverge towards the discharge outlet without impinging on the inside of the housing.