Abstract: To modify the headspace in a container to remove vacuum pressure, a container has a seal or cap which may provide a temporary opening into the container which is sealable under compression to provide a controlled raising of the internal pressure as the heated contents of the container cools. A sealing chamber (84) may enable the introduction of a fluid into the headspace (23b) to force the fluid level (40) lower. Other methods and apparatus are described.

Abstract: A kit of parts for use in unicondylar knee replacement of a patient having a femur and a tibia comprises a drill guide and an intramedullary rod, the intramedullary rod being sized to fit within the intramedullary canal of the femur of the patient. The drill guide is arranged so as to engage a distal end of the intramedullary rod to that which engages the patient's intramedullary canal, and is formed with a foot portion sized to fit between the patient's femur and tibia before any bone is removed from the femur or tibia. The drill guide provides a guide for drilling of at least one hole in the femur. A further kit of parts for use in unicondylar knee replacement of a patient having a femur and a tibia comprises a femoral component for implantation in the femur, the femoral component having a bearing surface having a radius of curvature, and a guide spoon.

Abstract: A medical device such as a stent (10) or medical balloon (40) is functionalised prior to coating with a bioactive material (54), specifically by acidification or basification of the contact surface or surfaces (50) of the medical device. Functionalisation with subsequent coating of bioactive agent directly onto the functionalised surface provides a significantly more consistent and reliable coating of bioactive agent on a medical device without requiring containment or time release devices.

Abstract: A semi-rigid collapsible container has a side-wall with an upper portion, a central portion, a lower portion and a base. The central portion includes a vacuum panel portion having a control portion and an initiator portion. The control portion is inclined more steeply in a vertical direction, i.e. has a more acute angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the container, than the initiator portion. On low vacuum force being present within the container panel following the cooling of a hot liquid in the container the initiator portion will flex inwardly to cause the control portion to invert and flex further inwardly into the container and the central portion to collapse. Raised ribs provide an additional support for the container in its collapsed state. In another embodiment the telescoping of the container back to its original position occurs when the vacuum force is released following removal of the container cap.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electro-stimulation device having co-operating male/female locking engagement between an internal electrode connector and an externally facing contact electrode. This arrangement aids easy assembly of the electrostimulation device especially when using a unitary device body to form a self-contained device. The device may be arranged to deliver constant target current to a muscle for electro-stimulation of that muscle. The device may be a completely self-contained device with no external means for the adjustment and control of the electro-stimulation delivered to the muscle during treatment.

Abstract: A method of preparing a tea beverage in a brewing device is provided, the device comprising an infusion chamber with a bottom rim which defines an opening; a capsule holder for receiving a capsule, the capsule holder comprising a filter and an openable and closable passage; the method comprising: inserting a capsule into the capsule holder; connecting the capsule holder to the infusion chamber; introducing liquid into the capsule so that the liquid and tea material mix and flow into the infusion chamber and brew the beverage; and then opening the passage to allow the beverage to flow from the infusion chamber through the filter and out through the passage. A capsule containing tea material for use in the method is also provided, the capsule comprising a body part, which is a single, impermeable piece which defines a cavity with a volume of from 10 to 24 cm3.

Abstract: A GNSS enabled device that is communicatively coupled to a network, receives time stamps via the network. The time stamps are generated based on reference clock signals within the network. GNSS receiver clock signal frequency may be adjusted based on the time stamps. When GNSS satellite signals and/or SRN signals are not available, the time stamps enable synchronization with GNSS satellites. Network clock signals and/or time stamps may be generated by an access point, a DSL modem, a cable modem and/or a primary reference clock within the network. A series of time stamps may be utilized for adjusting frequencies. Clock signals may be generated for adjusting frequencies based on a comparison between time stamps and oscillator or mixer output. Clock signals are generated for baseband, intermediate and/or RF frequency signal processing. GNSS satellite signals may be demodulated, correlated with a pseudonoise code sequence and/or synchronized based on the time stamps.

Abstract: A tibial knee joint prosthesis for attachment to a suitably prepared tibial bone, providing bearing portions in the lateral and medial compartments. The lateral and medial bearing surfaces of the component are inclined at different angles in the anterior to posterior direction of the knee, so that when mounted to the tibia, the lateral bearing surface of the prosthesis is higher than the medial bearing surface to the posterior side of the knee. In this way the lateral ligament is tightened progressively more than the medial ligament as the knee moves from extension to flexion, resulting in increased stability in the lateral compartment.

Abstract: A hot-fill PET container or bottle (10) filling with a liquid at an elevated temperature has a side wall (9) extending to a lower portion including a pressure panel (11) and a base (21) in its unfolded or pre-fill position. The panel (11) is transversely oriented and has a decoupling or hinge structure (13), an initiator portion (1) and control portion (5) of a steeply angled inverting conical section between 30 and 45 degrees. The control portion enables the inversion of the panel (11) into the container (10) to compensate for vacuum or reduced pressure induced within the container as the liquid cools down. The base (2) can also have a plurality of reinforcing ribs (3).

Abstract: The invention concerns a tibial prosthetic component comprising a plate (100) for forming a tibial plateau of a tibia (16), wherein a peripheral region of the plate (100) has a thickness of less than 3 mm. The invention also concerns a tibial prosthetic component having a keel of depth less than 9 mm. The invention also concerns a method of selecting a tibial prosthetic component comprising receiving measurements of at least one physical attribute of an individual into whom the tibial prosthetic component is to be implanted, selecting a thickness of a plate (100) and depth of keel of the tibial prosthetic component based on the measurements and providing a tibial prosthetic component comprising a plate (100) having the selected thickness and a keel having the selected depth.

Abstract: A sealing and pressure dosing apparatus, and container filling method, including a capping machine (102) which receives containers (1). Closures (80) are applied to the containers (1) immediately following the raising of pressure within the containers (1) by a pressure dosing system in a pressure sealing chamber (84). Preferably a cooling system is integrated with the capping machine.

Abstract: An implantable medical device includes a bioactive material coated on a contact surface. The contact surface and bioactive material each has a defined surface energy density comprising a polar component and a non-polar component. The polar components of the surface energies are substantially matched and the non-polar components of the surface energies are substantially matched so as to allow optimised bonding and elution of the material when in situ within a patient. A method for manufacturing the device is also provided.

Abstract: A hot-fill PET container or bottle (10) filling with a liquid at an elevated temperature has a side wall (9) extending to a lower portion including a pressure panel (11) and a base (21) in its unfolded or pre-fill position. The panel (11) is transversely oriented and has a decoupling or hinge structure (13), an initiator portion (1) and control portion (5) of a steeply angled inverting conical section between 30 and 45 degrees. The control portion enables the inversion of the panel (11) into the container (10) to compensate for vacuum or reduced pressure induced within the container as the liquid cools down. The base (2) can also have a plurality of reinforcing ribs (3).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a capsule for a beverage production machine, the capsule comprising: an ingredient enclosed within the capsule; and an identifier; wherein the identifier is an area of conductive material incorporating a code pattern, the code pattern consisting of a predetermined arrangement of one or more discontinuities formed in the conductive material, and wherein the capsule comprises an orientation member for directing the alignment of the capsule within the beverage production machine.

Abstract: Aspects of a method and system for authorizing network transactions based on radio frequency (RF) characterization of a device's location are provided. In this regard, whether to approve a communication device to perform a network transaction may be determined based on results of a comparison between a radio frequency (RE) characterization of a location of the communication device and one or more approved RF characterizations. The RF characterization may be based on information from a plurality of receivers within the communication device. The one or more approved characterizations may be stored in the network device. The RF characterization may indicate a quantity of RF sources detected and identified by the communication device at the location. The RF characterization may indicate signal strength of signals received from RF sources detected and indentified by the communication device at the location.

Abstract: A compact utility loader is operated by a standing operator at the rear of a frame. A loader arm assembly comprises a scissors linkage on either side of the frame nesting around the prime mover. Each scissors linkage has an upper loader arm that is pivoted at its rear end to rears ends of a pair of lower loader arms such that the pivot connections to the upper loader arm move upwardly and forwardly relative to the frame during elevation of the loader arm assembly to provide a high lift capability. The frame is self-propelled by a differential drive and steering system that is operated by dual levers. A hand grip extends between and unifies the operation of the levers to permit the operator to more easily move the levers in the ways that are needed to provide either straight motion of the frame or turns of the frame.

Abstract: This invention is a packaged propellant air-induced variable thrust rocket engine that has a vast number of uses and applications for this invention. The primary purpose of the device described here is to provide a light weight, torque and vibration free thrust generator for the propulsion of aircraft. This device will facilitate the fabrication of very light weight aircraft because of the lack these forces. This device can also be used anywhere high velocity air flow and or the resulting thrust is needed. The invention uses aerodynamic principles to compress and accelerate the incoming air, prior to it being heated and accelerated by a short duration burst of thermal and kinetic energy from discrete packets of a mixture of oxidizable fuels. The heated and accelerated air then expands as it travels thru the device providing thrust.

Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods are provided for measuring forces in the space of a knee during surgery. Such forces can be caused by tension in the ligaments of the knee. A femoral member is engaged with a distal femur. While the knee is flexed, partially extended, or fully extended, a force sensor and a gauge shim can be placed in the gap between the femoral member and the tibial plateau to measure the forces therebetween. The force sensor provides an accurate and quantifiable measurement of force, making knee replacement surgery and ligament tension balancing more accurate, standardized and repeatable. The force sensor comprises an elongate housing which comprises a thin force sensing distal portion and a proximal handle portion.

Abstract: A transmitting communication device may iteratively adjust its transmit power, and may estimate, based on iterative transmit power adjustment, relative location of a receiving communication device. The transmit power may be initialized to a maximum value, and the transmit power may be iteratively reduced until connectivity with the receiving communication device is lost. The loss of connectivity may be determined based on reception of responses to ping messages transmitted by the transmitting communication device. The transmitting communication device may authenticate the receiving communication device and/or a user of the receiving communication device. The authentication may comprises utilizing transmit power adjustment and/or relative location estimation therefrom to ensure that a separation between the devices does not exceed a maximum value.