Abstract: A seal assembly for permitting hand assisted laparoscopic procedures includes a seal cap having a central access opening allowing access to a body cavity as desired. The seal cap is provided with a housing in which a seal is positioned. The seal cap also includes an attachment ring that is selectively detachable therefrom for selective attachment of a retractor.

Abstract: A seal assembly for permitting hand assisted laparoscopic procedures includes a seal cap having a seal positioned within a housing. The housing includes a lower seal ring having a track which supports an upper seal ring for relative rotational motion, wherein the seal is supported between the upper seal ring and the lower seal ring for rotation between an open orientation and a closed orientation. The track includes an inner upstanding annular wall and an outer upstanding annular wall connected by a base member. A ratchet mechanism controls motion of the upper seal ring relative to the lower seal ring. The ratchet mechanism includes a ratchet arm oriented to engage a ratchet surface and the ratchet surface is positioned between the inner upstanding annular wall and the outer upstanding annular wall.

Abstract: A seal assembly for permitting hand assisted laparoscopic procedures includes a seal cap having a seal positioned within a housing. The housing includes a lower seal ring having a track which supports an upper seal ring for relative rotational motion, wherein the seal is supported between the upper seal ring and the lower seal ring for rotation between an open orientation and a closed orientation. The track includes an inner upstanding annular wall and an outer upstanding annular wall connected by a base member. A ratchet mechanism controls motion of the upper seal ring relative to the lower seal ring. The ratchet mechanism includes a ratchet arm oriented to engage a ratchet surface. The ratchet surface extends outwardly from a center of the seal assembly.

Abstract: A seal assembly for permitting hand assisted laparoscopic procedures includes a seal cap having an iris seal positioned within a housing. The housing includes a lower seal ring having a track which supports an upper seal ring for relative rotational motion, wherein the iris seal is supported between the upper seal ring and the lower seal ring for rotation between an open orientation and a closed orientation. The seal assembly also includes a retractor extending from the seal cap.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for fabricating a backside illuminated photodiode array is described which does not use epoxy, and therefore has better transmission characteristics. The method uses indium or other coldweldable metal to fasten the detectors to the transmissive substrate. Because the indium is opaque in the waveband of detector sensitivity, it also forms an optical mask for each detector element.

Abstract: An overhead door includes a plurality of panels pivotally connected to one another with the mating upper and lower edges of the adjacent panels providing a pinch-resistant configuration during articulation of the overhead door. Additionally, the installation and assembly of the door is more easily and efficiently accomplished because of first and second contact locations between the mating upper and lower edges of the panels and the configuration of those contact locations provides registration or alignment of the panels relative to one another during installation. Additionally, the hinge assembly includes a pivot axis which is positioned between the front and back faces of the panel to enhance the pinch-resistant operation of the door and the installation of the hinge is easily accomplished with a reduced number of parts because of cooperating keyhole slots and key on the pivot pin of the hinge.

Abstract: A therapeutic composition effective on contact with thrombin at a site of treatment in a patient as a tissue adhesive, hemostat or sealant, said composition comprising non-autologous, non-single donor mammalian fibrinogen that is capable of polymerizing when provided in solution at said site at a concentration of about 30 mg/ml thereof or less, to a fibrin network having therapeutically effective strength, wherein said composition contains less than about 30% (w/w), based on total protein mass present therein, of proteins other than fibrinogen, and further comprises a sufficient amount of one or more low molecular weight physiologically-compatible solutes such that said composition, if formulated as a lyophilized material, can be reconstituted therefrom at room temperature in sterile water for injection in about 30 minutes or less, at about 25 mg/ml of said fibrinogen. Additionally, methods for producing and maintaining said composition, and methods for the use thereof.

Abstract: A therapeutic composition effective on contact with thrombin at a site of treatment in a patient as a tissue adhesive, hemostat or sealant, said composition comprising non-autologous, non-single donor mammalian fibrinogen that is capable of polymerizing when provided in solution at said site at a concentration of about 30 mg/ml thereof or less, to a fibrin network having therapeutically effective strength, wherein said composition contains less than about 30% (w/w), based on total protein mass present therein, of proteins other than fibrinogen, and further comprises a sufficient amount of one or more low molecular weight physiologically-compatible solutes such that said composition, if formulated as a lyophilized material, can be reconstituted therefrom at room temperature in sterile water for injection in about 30 minutes or less, at about 25 mg/ml of said fibrinogen. Additionally, methods for producing and maintaining said composition, and methods for the use thereof.

Abstract: A system for classifying detected lightning strikes detects signals representative of a lightning strike and processes such signals to generate a frequency signature thereof which is used to classify the lightning strike represented by the detected signals into a type. In a preferred embodiment, the type is selected from a plurality of predetermined types based on the frequency signature. In an alternate embodiment, a pulse width of the lightning strike is determined from the detected signals and used in combination with the frequency signature to classify the lightning strike into its type.

Abstract: A lightning strike detection and mapping system includes a processor which generates a location signal of a lightning strike from detected signals representative thereof and drives a display to display an indication of the lightning strike based on the location signal thereof. The display is governed by a first signal to control the brightness thereof and includes an ambient light measuring device in proximity thereto for generating a second signal indicative of the measured light conditions. The processor monitors the level of the second signal in order to adjust the first signal to accomplish control of the display brightness in response to change in ambient light conditions.

Abstract: A lightning strike detection and mapping system includes a processor for generating a location signal of a lightning strike based on detected signals representative thereof. The location signal is used to drive a display for displaying an indication of the lightning strike thereon. A monitoring device monitors the power source of the system and generates a signal indicative of the level thereof which is read by the processor and used to drive the display to display a representation of the power level signal. Accordingly, the system is capable of monitoring its power source for displaying a representation of the power level thereof on a common lightning strike mapping display.

Abstract: A cold shield for an array of detectors of predetermined shape comprising a first cover of radiation blocking material formed with parallel rows of apertures and lying a first distance away from the detectors and a second cover of radiation blocking material formed with a plurality of apertures of generally the predetermined shape therethrough and lying a second distance, smaller than the first distance, away from the detectors so as to minimize background radiation from reaching the detectors while permitting desired radiation approaching the array from any of a plurality of angles to reach the detectors.

Abstract: A high density optical detector mosaic array assembly having a plurality of interconnect locations comprised of IC readout pads in a pattern suitable for interconnecting a plurality of integrated circuit devices. The assembly comprises a substrate, a plurality of thin film metallization layers alternating with a plurality of thick film dielectric layers wherein the first of the thin film layers is deposited directly on the substrate and is delineated to form a plurality of interconnect lines disposed in a pattern suitable to form a first row of the dectector mosaic at a first edge of the assembly and terminating at an interconnect location. Terminal pads are applied to each such interconnect line and the first thick film dielectric layer is deposited over the thin film interconnect line such that only the terminal pads are left exposed.

Abstract: In a method of determining the rate of heat transfer from a surface due to liquid convection, a coating of a material capable of dissolving in the convecting liquid and whose optical properties on irradiation are proportional to the thickness of the coating, is applied to the surface and is then exposed to radiation and to the convecting liquid, the change in the amount of radiation transmitted or reflected from the coating giving an indication of the rate of heat transfer.

Abstract: A backside contacted mosaic detector array which provides close detector packing in one or more directions by eliminating over the edge contacts typically used. The array uses indium or other cold-weldable metal, both as a means for fastening the array from the backside to its circuit board and as a means for providing electrical contact with each detector.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for electrically interconnecting two integrated circuit boards, which includes spring finger contact pads positioned on one board which are matched to raised contact pads on a second board in a manner such that the assembly is easily disassembled and reconnectable and such that it provides for exact height registration between boards. Accurate height registration is required when, for example, an electro-optical device referenced with respect to an optical system is mounted on one of the circuit boards.

Abstract: An integrated circuit chip carrier having miniaturized electrical input/output interconnectors, such that the area of the chip carrier may be matched or minimized with respect to the area of the integrated circuit. Such input/output interconnectors are reusable, such that the chip carrier may be easily removed and reconnected to a mother board assembly. Input/output interconnections as provided which when used allow an electro-optical integrated circuit to become in focus.

Abstract: A shield for limiting the radiation received by individual detectors within a detector array of an electromagnetic radiation detection system to the radiation provided to the detectors by the optics of the system. The shield comprises a member of etchable glass having apertures formed therein, the position of the aperture edges being in predetermined relation to the edges of the detectors for shielding the detectors from electromagnetic radiation generated outside the field of view of the optics.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for fabricating a backside contacted mosaic detector array which provides close detector packing in one or more directions by eliminating over the edge contacts typically used. The method uses indium or other coldweldable metal, both as a means for fastening the array from the backside to its circuit board and as a means for providing electrical contact with each detector.