Abstract: A medical appliance for the treatment of one or more sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea in a patient, the appliance comprising: a biasing member for inserting behind and exerting a force upon the patient's soft palate or tongue, wherein the biasing member is inserted in a reduced or minimized form and then expanded or firms once in place to exert the force. The appliance may be nasally inserted or be placed through the mouth. In a particular configuration, both the soft palate and tongue are biased to prevent obstruction of the flow of air in the nasopharyngeal airway.

Abstract: A pipe crimping apparatus comprises holding means to externally engage and hold a joint formed by locating one end of a pipe connection onto a pipe end, the holding means having a crimping tool movable relative to the swaged end to cause the swaged end to be deformed and crimped onto the pipe end. In a preferred embodiment, the holding means is elongate and at one end thereof has a gripping zone to engage behind the inner side of a swaged end of the pipe connector, and at the other end thereof the crimping tool is movable longitudinally and internally of the holding means. Means are provided to cause axial movement of the tool towards the gripping zone so to engage the outer side of the swaged end and crimp it to the pipe end.

Abstract: A method of and means for making pipe-to-pipe connections in which the pipes are provided with socket ends and with spigot ends for mating with the socket ends of pipes to be connected therewith. Each socket end being provided with an annular portion of increased diameter. The socket ends are of malleable material capable of being crimped around a spigot end of the mated pipe. An annular element is provided within the pipe connection. The annular element is positioned in the inside of the annular portion.

Abstract: An explosive slurry containing red water, a nitrocellulose containing prolant, oxidizer, passivated aluminum and a thickening agent.