Abstract: A system and method for installing and removing a flow restrictor assembly in a shower, while prevents tampering with the flow restriction system thus installed. Tampering is prevented by concealing the flow restrictor assembly behind a shower wall, attached directly to a water supply line. The system further prevents tampering by concealing the tool-hole necessary for its removal behind a flow restrictor disk, so that there are no visible means of removing the flow restrictor assembly. The flow restrictor assembly threads onto a showerhead arm and the flow restrictor assembly with the attached showerhead arm threads directly into the water line. When the showerhead arm is unthreaded, the flow restrictor assembly remains connected to the water line by an external screw thread. The flow restrictor must be removed to reveal the tool-hole which may only then be engaged by a tool for removal.

Abstract: An inventive pouring spout that is selectively attachable to a container and fitted to the opening of the container with which it is used. In a preferred embodiment, the pouring spout is fitted to the dimensions of a one-quart container and includes a wall, a sealing member, a mouth and a handle. The handle is connected to the wall with a hinge that enables the handle to pivot away from the container to allow the sealing member to be appropriately positioned while the container rests flat on a surface. After the sealing member is in place, the handle is then pivoted back in position to securely hold the container. The handle includes a plurality of upwardly extending projections adapted to securely engage the bottom rim of the container. Furthermore, thermoplastic material is applied at the handle area forming a handle cover that is comfortable and easy to grip.

Abstract: A signal representative of a patient's respiration is split into equal length epochs. A primary feature is extracted from each epoch that acts as a compressed representation of the signal events. Statistics are applied to the primary feature to produce one or more secondary features that represent the entire epoch. Each secondary feature is grouped with one or more other features that are extracted from the entire epoch rather than selected epoch events. This grouping is the epoch pattern. The pattern is manipulated with suitable classifier algorithm to produce a probability for each class within the algorithm, that the signal may be representative of a disease state (Cheyne-Stokes, OSA etc). The epoch is assigned to the class with the highest probability. Also defined are methods of detecting Cheyne-Stokes breathing by analyzing a signal to detect one or regions of hyperpnoea and if the length of a hyperpnoea exceeds a parameter, Cheyne-Stokes is present.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a printed circuit board having an RF module power stage circuit embedded therein. Specifically, this invention relates to a printed circuit board having an RF module power stage circuit embedded therein, in which a terminal pad for a resistor, a bead, or an inductor is defined or formed on a power supply plane of a multilayered wired board to connect the resistor, the bead, or the inductor to the power supply plane, and the resistor, the bead, or the inductor is connected in parallel with a decoupling capacitor by using a via hole or by embedding the resistor, the bead or the inductor perpendicular to the power supply plane, thus decreasing the size of the RF module and improving the performance thereof.

Abstract: A clip for clamping an object (25) has a clip body (5) where a pair of clip members (1, 2) are pivotally connected to each other, clamping force increasing members (6, 7) for increasing a clamping force of the clip body; and fixing means (8) for supporting the clamping force increasing members on the clip body. The clamping force increasing members have slip prevention sections (6a, 7a) disposed between leading ends of the clip body and clamped by the clip body together with the object, and have also transmission sections (6b, 7b) connected to the slip prevention sections and fixed to the clip members by the fixing means, to cause the friction force that the slip prevention sections receive from the object to be transmitted to the clip body.

Abstract: A crash barrier beam (10) suitable for temporary placement on a road comprises a housing (18) which, in profile, has a laterally extending base (12) for contact with the road. The beam has a narrower central element (14) upwardly extending from the base that terminates in a top portion (16). The exterior of the housing provides a continuous impact surface to an oncoming vehicle and the profile provides stability to the beam on impact. The crash barrier beam (10) has a length defined by a first end (24) and a second end (26, 28). At least one of the first and second ends comprises formations (32, 34) for engagement with corresponding formations (38, 40) on an end of an adjacent beam (10?) so as to facilitate joining of the beams to one another. The formations are configured for the beams to be substantially self-aligning with respect to each other.

Abstract: A method and a CPAP apparatus for characterizing mask systems provided. The CPAP apparatus can be calibrated by including sensors configured to measure flow and pressure. When the flow generator is fitted to a new or changed mask system, a method for calibrating the flow generator for the new or changed mask system. The method includes determining air flow characteristics using flow measurements made during a first test period when the flow through the mask system is open, measuring or estimating pressure in the mask system during a second test period when the flow through the mask system is blocked and determining air flow characteristics of the diffuser of the mask system using the air flow characteristics of the air delivery hose determined during the first test period and the pressure measurements made during the second test period.

Abstract: The apparatus provides for the determination of the instantaneous phase in the respiratory cycle, subject's average respiration rate and the provision of ventilatory assistance. A microprocessor (16) receives an airflow signal from a pressure transducer (18) coupled to a port (17) at a mask (11). The microprocessor (16) controls a servo (19), that in turn controls the fan motor (20) and thus the pressure of air delivered by the blower (10). The blower (10) is coupled to a subject's mask (ii) by a conduit (12). The invention seeks to address the following goals: while the subject is awake and making substantial efforts the delivered assistance should be closely matched in phase with the subject's efforts; the machine should automatically adjust the degree of assistance to maintain at least a specified minimum ventilation without relying on the integrity of the subject's chemoreflexes; and it should continue to work correctly in the presence of large leaks.

Abstract: A ventilator device delivers ventilatory support to a patient in a back up timed mode when patient respiration is not detected or a spontaneous mode when patient respiration is detected. The timing threshold governing the back-up mode is chosen to deviate from normal expected respiration time for the patient to promote patient initiated ventilation in the spontaneous mode but permit back-up ventilation in the event of apnea. Automated adjustments to the timing threshold during the timed mode are made from the less vigilant timing threshold to a more vigilant threshold at or near a timing of normal expected breathing of the patient. Such adjustments may be made from a minimum to a maximum vigilance timing settings or incrementally there between as a function of time in the timed mode which is preferably the number of delivered machine breaths.

Abstract: A user authentication method of authenticating a user on an on-line basis using a user's e-mail address and hardware information is provided. The user authentication method includes the steps of: transmitting a user's authentication client platform hardware information and e-mail address to an authentication server module through an authentication client module installed in the authentication client platform; and the authentication client module determining user authentication according to whether or not the e-mail address and hardware information received from the authentication server module is identical to user's e-mail address and hardware information stored in an authentication database. A user's authentication request and authentication is confirmed through an e-mail in the case that authentication fails in the primary authentication process. The user authentication method performs authentication by using a user's hardware information and e-mail address, their uniqueness of which is verified.