Abstract: An instrument for reconfiguring stomach tissue includes a sealing member that seals a section of a tissue manipulator from contact with bodily fluids. The tissue manipulator includes a first portion that is configured for releasable coupling to an actuating member and a second portion configured to receive an implant to be deployed within the patient. The tissue manipulator also includes a rectangular member and a cavity for receiving a coupler of the actuating member. The tissue manipulator has a first member with tissue penetrating elements and a second member with engaging elements configured to deflect the tissue penetrating elements upon relative movement of the first and second members. The actuating member includes a tissue penetrating element support positioned to limit bending of the tissue manipulator. The instrument includes an actuating mechanism that is configured to move at least one of the first and second members of the tissue manipulator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an identification element having an integrated circuit and an antenna coil connected to the integrated circuit. The antenna coil comprises a lower conducting track and an upper conducting track. Each track includes a plurality of turns, with the two tracks being arranged on either side of a dielectric layer. The relative position of the two tracks is such that they overlap substantially only in one selected area or in two selected areas.

Abstract: A breast cup for use with a breast pump for expressing breast milk is provided. The breast cup sealingly separates the air flow from the breast milk, provides a barrier against impingement of the flexible insert by the user's breast and provides a massaging member for facilitating expression of the breast milk.

Abstract: A breast pump system for obtaining breast milk is provided. The system sealingly separates the air flow from the breast milk and uses a single air tube for both positive pressure and negative pressure to be applied to a woman's breast. The breast pump can have a piston/cylinder device for generating pressure that allows a user to control suction and cycle time.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an identification element (8) having an integrated circuit (6) and an antenna coil (7) connected to the integrated circuit (6) (→RFID transponder).

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a printer having a device for printing a data carrier. It is proposed providing the data carrier with at least one transponder chip and equipping the printer with a device for driving the transponder chip. This makes it possible to print the data carrier simultaneously or sequentially and to write data into, or read data out of, the transponder chip.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a printer having a device for printing a data carrier. It is proposed providing the data carrier with at least one transponder chip (26) and equipping the printer with a device for driving the transponder chip (26). This makes it possible to print the data carrier simultaneously or sequentially and to write data into, or read data out of, the transponder chip.

Abstract: A human food product comprises a higher ploidy strain of Fungi imperfecti of which each parent has a genetic growth constraint not shared by the other parent. One parent is for example auxotrophic for two compounds selected from histidine, arginine, leucine and adenine and the other for the other two. The nucleic acid content of the strain is preferably less than 2% by weight. The strain may be made by killing a higher ploidy strain of Fungi imperfecti and simultaneously reducing its nucleic acid content to below 2% by weight by treatment with water. The process may include preparing a higher ploidy strain of edible Fusarium by culturing two auxotrophs thereof together in a medium containing nutrients permitting both to grow and then culturing organisms derived from such culture in minimal medium. The invention is applicable to the production of human food by culturing the strain in conditions such that reversion or partial reversion to the haploid form(s) is minimised.

Abstract: A human food product comprises a higher ploidy strain of Fungi imperfecti of which each parent has a genetic growth constraint not shared by the other parent. One parent is for example auxotrophic for two compounds selected from histidine, arginine, leucine and adenine and the other for the other two. The nucleic acid content of the strain is preferably less than 2% by weight. The strain may be made by killing a higher ploidy strain of Fungi imperfecti and simultaneously reducing its nucleic acid content to below 2% by weight by treatment with water. The process may include preparing a higher ploidy strain of edible Fusarium by culturing two auxotrophs thereof together in a medium containing nutrients permitting both to grow and then culturing organisms derived from such culture in minimal medium. The invention is applicable to the production of human food by culturing the strain in conditions such that reversion or partial reversion to the haploid form(s) is minimised.

Abstract: Filamentous microorganisms of improved properties, for example growth rate, may be obtained by culturing a sample of desired morphology until a substantial proportion of the culture diverges from that morphology, selecting an organism from the culture at that stage which exhibits the desired morphology and repeating the process with the selected microorganism. Furthermore, an isolated Fusarium graminearum having all of the characteristics of IMI 366464 and also possessing a greater morphological stability and growth rate than Fusarium graminearium strain IMI 145,425 is disclosed.

Abstract: A multiple access communications system comprises a node spacecraft GEO and several user spacecraft LEO.sub.1 to LEO.sub.n. Each user spacecraft LEO.sub.1 to LEO.sub.n includes a transmit/receive terminal head 18.sub.1 to 18.sub.n, and the node spacecraft GEO includes n transmit/terminals 22 to 22.sub.n and a single beacon unit 24. The beacon beam may be operated to initiate acquisition phases which allow two-way communication to be established between the transmit/receive terminals 22.sub.1 to 22.sub.n on the node spacecraft and the transmit/receive terminals 18.sub.1 to 18.sub.n on the corresponding user terminals. The acquisition phases include a period during which the beacon scans an uncertainty cone associated with the node spacecraft. This scanning period is reduced for second and subseqeunt acquisitions by using the first and subsequently acquired communication links to provide a more accurate estimate of the angular attitude of the node spacecraft, thus reducing the extent of the uncertainty cone.

Abstract: A method of processing video image data for use in the storage or transmission of moving digital video images, includes decomposition of each frame image into an equivalent set of sub-images containing information on different length scales, derivation of encoded prediction rules from the decomposed data to approximate each sub-image using data from the immediately preceding compressed sub-image and data from the current sub-image to produce compressed data of an image for subsequent storage or transmission to a receiver and reconstruction, after retrieval or receipt, by comparison of the compressed data received for the current frame image with the reconstruction of the preceding frame image.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for controlling the alignment of a transmit laser beam (1a) of a first coherent detection optical communications transmitter/receiver terminal with a further coherent detection optical communications transmitter/receiver terminal relative to a receive laser beam (8). The first terminal incorporates a transmit laser beam generator (1) operable to form and pass the transmit beam (1a) through a point ahead mechanism (2) to a telescope assembly (6) operable to receive the receive laser beam (8).

Abstract: This invention relates to mechanisms for steering or pointing transmitted optical radiation beams and/or the look directions from which optical radiation beams are received. It also relates to optical communications systems incorporating such mechanisms, more particularly but not exclusively interspacecraft communications systems.

Abstract: A laser beam communication system for spacecraft in which each communication terminal comprises, for steering the beam projected from that terminal, four mirrors, each mounted on a mechanism capable of rotating the mirror about a constant defined axis. The mirrors and their attached mechanisms are arranged in pairs with one pair on either side of a magnifying telescope. All rotating joints in each mechanism are constructed using flexure pivots. Such a pointing element can provide both the range and accuracy required for an important class of free space laser links without introducing any extra friction into the pointing system.