Abstract: An embryo replacement catheter has a flexible extruded shaft of a transparent polyurethane with a bore extending along its length. Gas bubbles of a diameter in the range 5? to 10? are incorporated into the thickness of the wall of the shaft by adding gas during extrusion. The bubbles are selected to increase the visibility of the catheter under ultrasound imaging whilst still enabling material flowing along the catheter to be seen.

Abstract: An embryo replacement catheter has a flexible extruded shaft of a transparent polyurethane with a bore extending along its length. Gas bubbles of a diameter in the range 5? to 10? are incorporated into the thickness of the wall of the shaft by adding gas during extrusion. The bubbles are selected to increase the visibility of the catheter under ultrasound imaging whilst still enabling material flowing along the catheter to be seen.

Abstract: A needle assembly comprises a metal needle (1) with a hub (13) and a marker in the form of a bubble-filled plastics rod (2) inserted within the needle. The rod (2) makes the assembly more visible under ultrasound observation when confirming correct placement of the needle (1) and is subsequently removed when correct placement has been confirmed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method (700) of creating a security document (310), the method comprising the steps of encoding the document (310) with a first set (309) of protection marks containing information defining an absolute co-ordinate system (314) across the face of the document (310), and encoding the document (310) with a second set (302) of protection marks containing information that (i) identifies at least one region (605) of the document (310) according to the co-ordinate system (314) and (ii) defines at least one security attribute of the content within the defined region (605), wherein the first (309) and second (302) sets of protection marks are intermixed across the face of the document (310) and are used together to determine the location of the defined region (605) within the document.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method (600) of protecting a document (715) containing document information content, the method comprising the steps of defining a regular grid (716) over the document (715), separating the grid intersection points into a repeating pattern of points (701-704), wherein each member of the repeating pattern comprises two subsets of points (705, 709) having a predefined spatial relationship, said subsets of points being associated with corresponding regions of the document (715), and modulating (506), with respect to each member of the repeating pattern (701-704), protection mark attributes of protection marks associated with one of said subsets of points (709), to thereby encode information about the document information content of the regions of the document associated with both said subsets of points (705, 709).

Abstract: A closed system suction catheter has a catheter enclosed within a flexible envelope secured between a patient end fitting and a machine end fitting. The patient end fitting has a cleaning chamber with a valve at its patient side and is normally closed so that the cleaning chamber is isolated from the patient. The valve has an outer rigid housing enclosing a one-piece elastomeric moulding of tubular shape. The elastomeric moulding has two pads projecting externally through openings in the outer housing. The elastomeric moulding also has a web extending internally across its diameter with a diametrically-extending slit aligned with the pads. A collar mounted on the housing is slidable along the housing to engage the pads so as to apply pressure across the web and open the slit, thereby allowing the catheter to be advanced to the patient.

Abstract: A tracheal tube (40) or laryngeal mask has a sealing cuff (41, 2) with a surface covered by a brush-like material (44, 24) provided by closely-packed (25) between 1 mm and 5 mm in length. The brush-like surface (44, 24) may be provided by coating the surface with an adhesive and using an electrostatic charge to draw (25) to adhere to the adhesive.

Abstract: A method for printing a security document on a substrate is disclosed. Firstly, a first reference image of a reference region of the substrate is generated, the image being indicative of an inherent characteristic of the substrate in the reference region. This is followed by generating encoded data indicative of the inherent characteristic of the substrate. Finally, the encoded data is printed over the reference region of the substrate, thus effecting the print of the security document.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the formation of a vacuum electronics circuit by the fusion bonding of multiple substrate wafers, e.g., silicon, copper, or other suitable conductive material, each etched using DRIE, cut using EDM, or machined by other suitable means. Other aspects of the invention relate to the alignment of a cathode with tube by fusion bonding the cathode wafer to a tube built using the fabrication methods described herein. Yet other aspects involve the alignment of dies or wafers during the fabrication of a vacuum electronics device using the “lego” technique outlined herein. In yet other aspects, fabrication methods are described.

Abstract: A method of removing a barcode from the bitmap representation of a document is disclosed. The barcode comprises a plurality of data encoding symbols (102) and (104). The method starts with the step of scanning said document containing the barcode to form the bitmap representation of the at least a portion of the document. From said bitmap representation, the plurality of data encoding symbols (102) and (104), defining said barcode, are identified and the barcode is decoded at least partially. The locations of data encoding symbols (102) and (104) in the bitmap representation of said document are then identified, using data obtained during the at least partial decoding of said barcode. Finally, at least some of the data encoding symbols (102) and (104) are removed from said bitmap representation of said document.

Abstract: A tracheostomy tube has an inner skeletal frame (40) of a relatively stiff plasties material comprising a longitudinal spine (45) and several annular ribs (42) extending round the frame. A thin, flexible plastics sheath (41) is bonded to the outside of the frame (40). The construction enables a maximum internal diameter with a minimum external diameter.

Abstract: An intubation detector for an endotracheal tube has a resilient bellows and a carbon dioxide, color-change indicator mounted at the machine end of the tube. Compressing and releasing the bellows indicates whether or not the patient end of the tube is occluded. When the patient end of the tube is not occluded, gas is drawn into the indicator by the bellows to provide an indication of carbon dioxide level. The detector may be mounted at the machine end of a stiff introducer tube extended along the endotracheal tube. Alternatively, the detector may be mounted by a stem directly into the bore at the machine end of the endotracheal tube.

Abstract: A novel warning and identification system for use on recreational vehicles of various types, such as snowmobiles or ATVs, is disclosed as comprising a housing with a display that projects a digital number that is mounted and oriented to provide oncoming riders with information concerning the number of participants in the user's group. The digital display may be set by the user using inputs that allow the entry of the desired number. In addition, the warning and identification system of the present invention includes a beacon for transmitting a select radio signal from the recreational vehicle and which can be recognized by an oncoming rider using a corresponding warning and identification system. Signal differentiation is generated by the unit and like-kind signals are filtered out to avoid confusion amongst the users within a group of riders.

Abstract: Data propagation is provided with an originating transmitter that receives and processes data into a data packet that it transmits. A sensory input device is connected with and sends data to the transmitter. A plurality of transceivers are disposed in a geographic space and may receive and retransmit the packet. A target receiver receives and processes the packet and reports a result of processing the data.

Abstract: A tracheal tube has a sealing cuff towards its patient end and a suction aperture just above the cuff. The suction aperture connects via a lumen with a suction line terminated by a connector. One end of the connector is tapered and has a port for connection to a suction source. The connector also has a side port in which the nose of a syringe can be inserted to inject a lavage fluid out of the suction aperture to help loosen secretions. When not in use, the side port is closed by a valve or by a closure cap with formations for sealing the two ports.

Abstract: A cache coherent data processing system includes at least first and second coherency domains each including at least one processing unit and a cache memory. The cache memory includes a cache controller, a data array including a data storage location for caching a memory block, and a cache directory. The cache directory includes a tag field for storing an address tag in association with the memory block and a coherency state field associated with the tag field and the data storage location. The coherency state field has a plurality of possible states including a state that indicates that the address tag is valid, that the storage location does not contain valid data, and that the memory block is possibly cached outside of the first coherency domain.

Abstract: A method, system, and device for enabling intervention across same-level cache memories. In a preferred embodiment, responsive to a cache miss in a first cache memory a direct intervention request is sent from the first cache memory to a second cache memory requesting a direct intervention that satisfies the cache miss. In an alternate embodiment, direct intervention is utilized to access a same-level victim cache.

Abstract: A cache coherent data processing system includes at least first and second coherency domains each including at least one processing unit. The first coherency domain includes a first cache memory and a second cache memory, and the second coherency domain includes a remote coherent cache memory. The first cache memory includes a cache controller, a data array including a data storage location for caching a memory block, and a cache directory. The cache directory includes a tag field for storing an address tag in association with the memory block and a coherency state field associated with the tag field and the data storage location. The coherency state field has a plurality of possible states including a state that indicates that the memory block is possibly shared with the second cache memory in the first coherency domain and cached only within the first coherency domain.

Abstract: In a cache coherent data processing system including at least first and second coherency domains, a memory block is stored in a system memory in association with a domain indicator indicating whether or not the memory block is cached, if at all, only within the first coherency domain. A master in the first coherency domain determines whether or not a scope of broadcast transmission of an operation should extend beyond the first coherency domain by reference to the domain indicator stored in the cache and then performs a broadcast of the operation within the cache coherent data processing system in accordance with the determination.

Abstract: A cache coherent data processing system includes a plurality of processing units each having at least an associated cache, a system memory, and a memory controller that is coupled to and controls access to the system memory. The system memory includes a plurality of storage locations for storing a memory block of data, where each of the plurality of storage locations is sized to store a sub-block of data. The system memory further includes metadata storage for storing metadata, such as a domain indicator, describing the memory block. In response to a failure of a storage location for a particular sub-block among the plurality of sub-blocks, the memory controller overwrites at least a portion of the metadata in the metadata storage with the particular sub-block of data.