The present invention relates to a forward recumbent posture pod (10) for supporting the anterior torso of an infant residing therein while allowing for substantially unrestricted movement of the infant's limbs and head. The forward recumbent posture pod comprises a pod (12) slidably secured to one end of an arc-shaped spring (14), with the other end of the spring pivotally secured to a base (20) to space the pod away from the base. An infant rests in a cavity (22) of the pod with the infant's l...

An envelope feeder (20) for use in a photographic order-finishing station, including a base (22) to which a retaining plate (28) is mounted. A stack-holding tray (30) is biased toward the retaining plate to compress a stack (18) of envelopes placed therebetween for feeding. Suction heads (50) move arcuately to contact and grip the outermost envelope (36) on the stack by application of a partial vacuum, and the move back to peel and lift a portion of that envelope from the stack. A shuttle assemb...

An optical range sensing system that includes a source (80) for producing a pulse of light directed toward an object, and a receiver that comprises a photosensitive charge integrating device (90). The receiver receives a return pulse reflected by the object, and generates a first signal having a magnitude corresponding to the integrated intensity of the return pulse. A circuit (92, 94) coupled to the receiver produces a second signal having a magnitude corresponding to the time integral of the f...

A system and method for positioning a tool relative to a patient's bone to facilitate the performance of a surgical bone alteration task. The system comprises a bone immobilization device for supporting the bone in a fixed position with respect to a reference structure, and a robot that includes a base fixed in position with respect to the reference structure. The robot also includes a mounting member, and a manipulator connected between the base and the mounting member and permitting relative m...

The present invention provides a package for and method of packaging a sterilizable calibratable medical device including a hydratable sensor component. The device is maintained in a sterile environment during storage and in a clean environment during the calibration procedure. The package includes a manifold connected to the sensor component by plumbing. The plumbing establishes fluid communication between the manifold and the sensor component and/or between the sensor component and the ambient...

A fat substitute food composition containing a polysaccharide fatty acid polyester in place of from about 0.5% to about 95% of the total fat content of the food composition is disclosed. The polysaccharide is a polymer of at least three monosaccharides and has at least four fatty acid ester groups, each fatty acid portion having from 4 to 24 carbon atoms.

A vacuum pickup tool (10) having a handle (16) and a barrel (22) mounted thereto with a tip (24) that is heated by a temperature control unit (114). The barrel (22) and tip (24) include a longitudinal axial bore (41) attached to an air source through connector (116) to provide vacuum through an axial opening (62) and the tip (24) to hold a Z-clip (74) to the barrel (22). Actuation of a trigger (28) deactivates the vacuum and simultaneously heats the tip (24) to solder the clip (74) onto a wire w...

A fault tolerant clock system in which synchronization of the clocks continuing to operate after a fault occurs is maintained within a skew limit. The clock system includes a plurality of clock channels (10), each including a clock unit (12) and an isolation port (14). A local clock signal produced by a crystal oscillator (16) is enabled to provide a clock channel output signal while a counter (24) in the clock unit accumulates a predetermined number of local clock pulses. After the predetermine...

Automatically reconfiguring an electronic landing display that includes a flight path vector (FPV) symbol and a rising runway symbol combined with a digital altitude value that merge at low aircraft altitudes is disclosed. During approach, when the aircraft descends below a predetermined minimum altitude, e.g., 200 feet, the FPV symbol is removed. When the aircraft is on the ground and during takeoff, the rising runway symbol is removed. Removing one or the other of the merging symbols prevents ...

New strains of Lactobacillus capable of adhering to the gut epithelial cells of various species of animals and useful as dietary supplements.