Abstract: An apparatus for use in positioning a suture anchor includes a tubular outer member and an inner or pusher member. During assembly of the apparatus, a suture is positioned in a slot in the outer member. During use of the apparatus, the slot facilitates visualization of the position of the suture anchor relative to body tissue. In addition, the slot facilitates separation of the apparatus from the suture after the suture anchor has been positioned in the body tissue. A suture anchor retainer may be provided at one end of the tubular outer member to grip the suture anchor and hold the suture anchor in place during assembly. The suture anchor retainer also holds the suture anchor during movement of the apparatus from an assembly location to an operating room or other location where the apparatus is to be used. Indicia may be provided on the inner member to indicate the position of the suture anchor relative to body tissue.

Abstract: A gas bag (5) for a vehicle occupant protection system, which when inflated is three-dimensional in shape, is folded from a deflated, flattened and spread-out condition. The gas bag (5) has a rear wall with a securing section (SS) featuring an inflation port (20), a front wall section (OS) opposite thereto and a junction section (JS) between the two wall sections. The gas bag (5) is folded into a shape adapted to the interior space of a receiving compartment (RC). The folding of the gas bag (5) is done substantially by rotating the junction section (JS) relative to the securing section (SS).

Abstract: A power-assisted steering system for a vehicle comprising a hydraulic motor (1) for providing vehicle steering assistance, an open center servo-valve (6) for supplying the hydraulic motor (1) with hydraulic fluid, a hydraulic pump (7) for supplying hydraulic fluid to the servo-valve (6) and to the hydraulic motor (1), and an electric motor (13) for driving the hydraulic pump (7). The hydraulic pump (7) is controlled by controlling electrical power consumed by the electric motor (13). At least one sensor (15) repetitively monitors at least one operating parameter of the power-assisted steering system. At least one microprocessor (17) repetitively calculates reference values that vary as a function of a monitored level of the at least one operating parameter.

Abstract: A vehicle occupant protection apparatus (10) includes seat belt webbing (12), a field effect device (50) and a field source device (48) which, when energized, provides a field that energizes the field effect device (50). The webbing (12) is movable to a predetermined position in which it extends into the field to affect the field in a predetermined manner. The field effect device (50) has a first output when the webbing (12) is not in the predetermined position and has a second, different output when the webbing (12) is in the predetermined position. The output of the field effect device (50) thus indicates whether or not the webbing (12) is in the predetermined position.