Abstract: An end effector apparatus for a surgical instrument is disclosed including a housing having a first jaw mounted on a revolute joint and providing a first electrical conduction path between the housing and the first jaw. A second jaw is mounted on a revolute joint within the housing and is insulated from the housing, the jaws each having a manipulating portion and a lever arm. A yoke is received within the housing and mechanically coupled to the lever arms and to a control link and is moveable in response to movements of the control link to cause opening and closing of the jaws, the yoke being electrically insulated from the housing and the first jaw. A second electrical conduction path is provided between the control link and the second jaw. The electrical conduction paths facilitate conduction of an electrocauterization current through tissue grasped between the jaws.

Abstract: A mechanical vacuum dressing comprising: a first valve layer comprising a first one-way valve; a second valve layer comprising a second one-way valve; the first valve layer being joined to the second valve layer so as to define a chamber therebetween; the first one-way valve being configured to admit fluid into the chamber through the first one-way valve but prevent fluid from exiting the chamber through the first one-way valve; the second one-way valve being configured to exhaust fluid from the chamber through the second one-way valve but prevent fluid from entering the chamber through the second one-way valve; and the second valve layer comprising an elastomeric material such that (i) when the second valve layer is moved away from the first valve layer, the volume of the chamber is increased, and (ii) when the second valve layer is thereafter released, the second valve layer moves back towards the first valve layer and the volume of the chamber is decreased.

Abstract: A mechanical vacuum dressing comprising: a first valve layer comprising a first one-way valve; a second valve layer comprising a second one-way valve; the first valve layer being joined to the second valve layer so as to define a chamber therebetween; the first one-way valve being configured to admit fluid into the chamber through the first one-way valve but prevent fluid from exiting the chamber through the first one-way valve; the second one-way valve being configured to exhaust fluid from the chamber through the second one-way valve but prevent fluid from entering the chamber through the second one-way valve; and the second valve layer comprising an elastomeric material such that (i) when the second valve layer is moved away from the first valve layer, the volume of the chamber is increased, and (ii) when the second valve layer is thereafter released, the second valve layer moves back towards the first valve layer and the volume of the chamber is decreased.

Abstract: An end effector apparatus for a surgical instrument is disclosed including a housing having a first jaw mounted on a revolute joint and providing a first electrical conduction path between the housing and the first jaw. A second jaw is mounted on a revolute joint within the housing and is insulated from the housing, the jaws each having a manipulating portion and a lever arm. A yoke is received within the housing and mechanically coupled to the lever arms and to a control link and is moveable in response to movements of the control link to cause opening and closing of the jaws, the yoke being electrically insulated from the housing and the first jaw. A second electrical conduction path is provided between the control link and the second jaw. The electrical conduction paths facilitate conduction of an electrocauterization current through tissue grasped between the jaws.

Abstract: An end effector apparatus for a surgical instrument is disclosed including a housing having a first jaw mounted on a revolute joint and providing a first electrical conduction path between the housing and the first jaw. A second jaw is mounted on a revolute joint within the housing and is insulated from the housing, the jaws each having a manipulating portion and a lever arm. A yoke is received within the housing and mechanically coupled to the lever arms and to a control link and is moveable in response to movements of the control link to cause opening and closing of the jaws, the yoke being electrically insulated from the housing and the first jaw. A second electrical conduction path is provided between the control link and the second jaw. The electrical conduction paths facilitate conduction of an electrocauterization current through tissue grasped between the jaws.

Abstract: A mechanical vacuum dressing comprising: a first valve layer comprising a first one-way valve; a second valve layer comprising a second one-way valve; the first valve layer being joined to the second valve layer so as to define a chamber therebetween; the first one-way valve being configured to admit fluid into the chamber through the first one-way valve but prevent fluid from exiting the chamber through the first one-way valve; the second one-way valve being configured to exhaust fluid from the chamber through the second one-way valve but prevent fluid from entering the chamber through the second one-way valve; and the second valve layer comprising an elastomeric material such that (i) when the second valve layer is moved away from the first valve layer, the volume of the chamber is increased, and (ii) when the second valve layer is thereafter released, the second valve layer moves back towards the first valve layer and the volume of the chamber is decreased.

Abstract: A dose counter for counting doses of medicament dispensed by or remaining in a metered-dose inhaler. The dose counter includes a rotatably mounted first gear wheel having ratchet teeth and a display coupled to the first gear wheel, the display having a visible array of dose counting indicia indexable in response to rotary motion of the first gear wheel. The dose counter further includes an actuator mechanism having a first ratchet drive pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth of the first gear wheel in response to the dispensation of a medicament dose, and a second ratchet drive pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth of a gear wheel coupled to the display. In use, a first ratchet tooth of the first gear wheel is rotatably driven by the first pawl and then a second ratchet tooth of the gear wheel coupled to the display is rotatably driven by the second pawl.

Abstract: A dose counter for counting does of medicament dispensed by or remaining in a metered-dose inhaler. The dose counter includes a rotatably mounted gear wheel having a circular arrangement of ratchet teeth defining a root circle and a display coupled to the gear wheel, the display having a visible array of dose counting indicia indexable in response to rotary motion of the gear wheel. The dose counter further includes an actuator mechanism having a driver for rotatably driving the gear wheel in response to the dispensation of a medicament dose, the driver being arranged to engage the ratchet teeth of the gear wheel. The actuator mechanism includes an actuator shaft mounted for linear movement in response to the dispensing of a dose of medicament. In use, the travel of the driver along the root circle of the gear wheel exceeds the corresponding linear movement of the actuator shaft.

Abstract: An end effector apparatus for a surgical instrument is disclosed including a housing having a first jaw mounted on a revolute joint and providing a first electrical conduction path between the housing and the first jaw. A second jaw is mounted on a revolute joint within the housing and is insulated from the housing, the jaws each having a manipulating portion and a lever arm. A yoke is received within the housing and mechanically coupled to the lever arms and to a control link and is moveable in response to movements of the control link to cause opening and closing of the jaws, the yoke being electrically insulated from the housing and the first jaw. A second electrical conduction path is provided between the control link and the second jaw. The electrical conduction paths facilitate conduction of an electrocauterization current through tissue grasped between the jaws.

Abstract: A dose counter for counting doses of medicament dispensed by or remaining in a metered-dose inhaler. The dose counter includes: a rotatably mounted gear wheel having a circular arrangement of ratchet teeth; a display coupled to the gear wheel, the display having a visible array of dose counting indicia indexable in response to rotary motion of the gear wheel; and an actuator mechanism having a driver for rotatably driving the gear wheel in response to the dispensation of a medicament dose, the driver being arranged to engage the ratchet teeth of the gear wheel. The actuator mechanism includes a pivotally mounted lever having an input portion. The lever is arranged to amplify a linear stroke at the input portion such that a linear stroke of the driver exceeds the linear input stroke. By amplifying the stroke, the risk of undercounting due to insufficient stroke length may be reduced.

Abstract: A fifth wheel includes a top plate having a throat that is adapted to receive a kingpin of a trailer. The fifth wheel is equipped with a locking mechanism including a jaw slidably connected to the top plate and slidable between a closed position where the jaw blocks passage of a kingpin out of the throat of the fifth wheel and an open position where a kingpin may pass into and out of the throat of the fifth wheel. The jaw has an edge adapted to engage a kingpin positioned in the throat of the fifth wheel when the jaw is in the closed position. A bias device urges the jaw towards the closed position. The fifth wheel further includes a mechanism for moving the jaw between the open and closed positions. Further, the top plate of the fifth wheel is configured to allow service and/or replacement of the jaw from the top of the fifth wheel while it is assembled to a vehicle.

Abstract: A dose counter for counting doses of medicament dispensed by or remaining in a metered-dose inhaler. The dose counter includes: a rotatably mounted gear wheel having a circular arrangement of ratchet teeth; a display coupled to the gear wheel, the display having a visible array of dose counting indicia indexable in response to rotary motion of the gear wheel; and an actuator mechanism having a driver for rotatably driving the gear wheel in response to the dispensation of a medicament dose, the driver being arranged to engage the ratchet teeth of the gear wheel. The actuator mechanism includes a pivotally mounted lever having an input portion. The lever is arranged to amplify a linear stroke at the input portion such that a linear stroke of the driver exceeds the linear input stroke. By amplifying the stroke, the risk of undercounting due to insufficient stroke length may be reduced.

Abstract: A dose counter for counting doses of medicament dispensed by or remaining in a metered-dose inhaler. The dose counter includes a rotatably mounted first gear wheel having ratchet teeth and a display coupled to the first gear wheel, the display having a visible array of dose counting indicia indexable in response to rotary motion of the first gear wheel. The dose counter further includes an actuator mechanism having a first ratchet drive pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth of the first gear wheel in response to the dispensation of a medicament dose, and a second ratchet drive pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth of a gear wheel coupled to the display. In use, a first ratchet tooth of the first gear wheel is rotatably driven by the first pawl and then a second ratchet tooth of the gear wheel coupled to the display is rotatably driven by the second pawl.

Abstract: A dose counter for counting doses of medicament dispensed by or remaining in a metered-dose inhaler. The dose counter includes a rotatably mounted first gear wheel having ratchet teeth and a display coupled to the first gear wheel, the display having a visible array of dose counting indicia indexable in response to rotary motion of the first gear wheel. The dose counter further includes an actuator mechanism having a first ratchet drive pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth of the first gear wheel in response to the dispensation of a medicament dose, and a second ratchet drive pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth of a gear wheel coupled to the display. In use, a first ratchet tooth of the first gear wheel is rotatably driven by the first pawl and then a second ratchet tooth of the gear wheel coupled to the display is rotatably driven by the second pawl.

Abstract: A dose counter for counting doses of medicament dispensed by or remaining in a metered-dose inhaler. The dose counter includes: a rotatably mounted gear wheel having a circular arrangement of ratchet teeth; a display coupled to the gear wheel, the display having a visible array of dose counting indicia indexable in response to rotary motion of the gear wheel; and an actuator mechanism having a driver for rotatably driving the gear wheel in response to the dispensation of a medicament dose, the driver being arranged to engage the ratchet teeth of the gear wheel. The actuator mechanism includes a pivotally mounted lever having an input portion. The lever is arranged to amplify a linear stroke at the input portion such that a linear stroke of the driver exceeds the linear input stroke. By amplifying the stroke, the risk of undercounting due to insufficient stroke length may be reduced.

Abstract: A fifth wheel includes a top plate having a throat that is adapted to receive a kingpin of a trailer. The fifth wheel is equipped with a locking mechanism including a jaw slidably connected to the top plate and slidable between a closed position where the jaw blocks passage of a kingpin out of the throat of the fifth wheel and an open position where a kingpin may pass into and out of the throat of the fifth wheel. The jaw has an edge adapted to engage a kingpin positioned in the throat of the fifth wheel when the jaw is in the closed position. A bias device urges the jaw towards the closed position. The fifth wheel further includes a mechanism for moving the jaw between the open and closed positions. Further, the top plate of the fifth wheel is configured to allow service and/or replacement of the jaw from the top of the fifth wheel while it is assembled to a vehicle.

Abstract: A dose counter for counting doses of medicament dispensed by or remaining in a metered-dose inhaler. The dose counter includes: a rotatably mounted gear wheel having a circular arrangement of ratchet teeth; a display coupled to the gear wheel, the display having a visible array of dose counting indicia indexable in response to rotary motion of the gear wheel; and an actuator mechanism having a driver for rotatably driving the gear wheel in response to the dispensation of a medicament dose, the driver being arranged to engage the ratchet teeth of the gear wheel. The actuator mechanism includes a pivotally mounted lever having an input portion. The lever is arranged to amplify a linear stroke at the input portion such that a linear stroke of the driver exceeds the linear input stroke. By amplifying the stroke, the risk of undercounting due to insufficient stroke length may be reduced.

Abstract: A dose counter for counting doses of medicament dispensed by or remaining in a metered-dose inhaler. The dose counter includes: a rotatably mounted gear wheel having a circular arrangement of ratchet teeth; a display coupled to the gear wheel, the display having a visible array of dose counting indicia indexable in response to rotary motion of the gear wheel; and an actuator mechanism having a driver for rotatably driving the gear wheel in response to the dispensation of a medicament dose, the driver being arranged to engage the ratchet teeth of the gear wheel. The actuator mechanism includes a pivotally mounted lever having an input portion. The lever is arranged to amplify a linear stroke at the input portion such that a linear stroke of the driver exceeds the linear input stroke. By amplifying the stroke, the risk of undercounting due to insufficient stroke length may be reduced.

Abstract: A dose counter for counting doses of medicament dispensed by or remaining in a metered-dose inhaler. The dose counter includes a rotatably mounted first gear wheel having ratchet teeth and a display coupled to the first gear wheel, the display having a visible array of dose counting indicia indexable in response to rotary motion of the first gear wheel. The dose counter further includes an actuator mechanism having a first ratchet drive pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth of the first gear wheel in response to the dispensation of a medicament dose, and a second ratchet drive pawl for engaging the ratchet teeth of a gear wheel coupled to the display. In use, a first ratchet tooth of the first gear wheel is rotatably driven by the first pawl and then a second ratchet tooth of the gear wheel coupled to the display is rotatably driven by the second pawl.

Abstract: A dose counter for counting does of medicament dispensed by or remaining in a metered-dose inhaler. The dose counter includes a rotatably mounted gear wheel having a circular arrangement of ratchet teeth defining a root circle and a display coupled to the gear wheel, the display having a visible array of dose counting indicia indexable in response to rotary motion of the gear wheel. The dose counter further includes an actuator mechanism having a driver for rotatably driving the gear wheel in response to the dispensation of a medicament dose, the driver being arranged to engage the ratchet teeth of the gear wheel. The actuator mechanism includes an actuator shaft mounted for linear movement in response to the dispensing of a dose of medicament. In use, the travel of the driver along the root circle of the gear wheel exceeds the corresponding linear movement of the actuator shaft.