A skin condition analyzer with selectable modes of operation includes a probe apparatus for generating a skin condition signal representative of the moisture content of the skin and a processor that adjusts the skin condition signal in accordance with environmental components, such as temperature and humidity, to arrive at an overall skin condition signal. The skin condition is displayed visually and communicated audibly through a voice synthesizer system, having selectable languages. The modes ...

A plurality of command segments comprising one command are received into an integrated circuit in a plurality of phases, each command segment being received in a different phase. The command segments are pushed into a command queue. Control logic checks for a cancellation indication for the command being received. If a cancellation indication is received, the control logic for the command queue performs an undo-push operation to remove the command segments stored in the command queue associated ...

A character generator with multidirectional scan and variable line and character (or symbol) size capability. Universality is implemented by producing a serial binary stram which can be used to print or display in any of eight combinations of scan direction and progression, that is, for scan direction left to right, or vice versa, progressing up or down, or scan direction top to bottom or vice versa, progressing left or right. In formatting the serial binary stream, a font is accessed (for basic...

A character generator with multidirectional scan and variable line and character (or symbol) size capability is disclosed. Universality is implemented by producing a serial binary stream which can be used to print or display in any of eight combinations of scan direction and progression, that is, for scan direction left to right, or vice versa, progressing up or down, or scan direction top or bottom or vice versa, progressing left or right. In formatting the serial binary stream, a font is acces...

Self actuating valve systems for fluid line networks comprising a main valving stem (3) with a driving-to-close bias spring (14) which is blocked by a detent ball (15) from closure against a valve seal (8), the ball itself being held by a removable pilot stem biassed to such holding action by a spring (17), the force of which can be automatically overcome at emergency temperature use condition by high force action of a shape memory spring (21). The main valving stem is manually resettable and th...

A display unit capable of being both vertically and horizontally arranged to achieve a wide variety of modular configurations comprising a plurality of substantially similar shelf members, a plurality of elongated support members, a plurality of socket cavities associated with the upper and lower portions of each of the shelf members for cooperatively engaging and supporting the elongated support members in a substantially upright position relative to each shelf member, and a plurality of connec...

A method and apparatus for providing a computer display with windowing capability. Through the storage of a sequence of linked references to areas in a computer memory, each reference providing horizontal and vertical extent of a subregion of the intended displayed information, an apparatus for readily constructing the desired display results. There is no need for a dedicated display memory. The disclosure defines the subregions to be those which result when the horizontal raster-scan lines pass...

A threaded hub and shaft connection includes a first hub threaded onto a first section of the shaft using a thread shape having a working face rise angle of from 7 to 25 degrees. Preferably a second hub is threaded onto a second section of the shaft inboard of the first hub, and the threads in the second hub and second shaft section also have a working face rise angle of from 7 to 25 degrees. Bolts or set screws engage both of their hubs in such manner as to exert axial force on at least the fir...

A guidewire imaging catheter includes a catheter body, housing secured to the distal end of the catheter body, a drive cable extending through a central lumen of the catheter body, and an imaging system disposed within the housing and coupled to the drive cable. A fixed guidewire is secured to the distal tip of the housing, and the catheter body is highly flexible while retaining sufficient torsional stiffness to allow the entire catheter to be used as a guidewire. Thus, the imaging guidewire ca...

Vascular catheters include ultrasonic imaging capability and optical waveguides for delivering laser energy for ablating vascular obstructions. The ultrasonic imaging capability comprises a fixed ultrasonic transducer which directs ultrasonic energy at a reflective surface on a rotating element. The rotating element allows the interior of the blood vessel to be scanned prior to the application of laser energy to ablate the obstruction.