Abstract: A restraint for holding a person atop a gurney or on a vehicle seat. A harness includes a pair of straps slidably mounted to a main frame. The straps are connected to an adjuster. A slide plate is mounted to the frame with the straps extending therethrough. A spring loaded device normally positions the plate to position the straps apart from the shoulders of a person positioned beneath the straps until the straps are pulled relative to an adjuster moving the plate and the straps adjacent the shoulders of the person.

Abstract: A method of controlling the fluid pressure of an inflatable stopping bag used to block the fluid flow through a fluid conduit comprises pressurising the bag using a pressure regulator which operates to regulate the pressure of the bag as a function of the instantaneous pressure in the pipe upstream of the stopping bag.

Abstract: The present invention provides a concentrated herbicide composition containing a glyphosate isopropylammonium salt and a polyoxyalkylene alkylamine surfactant. The concentrated herbicide composition can be formulated to exhibit decreased viscosity by reducing the amount of isopropyl amine used to prepare the glyphosate salt while maintaining the high concentration of the glyphosate salt.

Abstract: An apparatus for illuminating a license plate includes a reflector, one or more light emitting diodes mounted on a substrate, all positioned within a housing. The light emitting diode or diodes project light directed at the reflector. The reflector has a surface geometry for redirecting the light through a window in the housing such that it substantially uniformly illuminates the license plate. The apparatus preferably does not include a lens. The apparatus may include a light emitting diode or diodes and a curved free form reflector. The apparatus may also include a plurality of reflectors or reflector segments, each corresponding to a light emitting diode.

Abstract: Described are preferred multilayer, thin-film electrodes (11) that have improved resistance to flaking or cracking under conditions of operation. Also described are electrolytic cells (17) incorporating such electrodes (11), and methods for selecting electrode materials to facilitate reaction rates, energy production, and/or to shift the average mass number of transmuted products to lighter or heavier values. Preferred electrodes (11) have a plurality of thin-film conductive layers (14) supported on generally concave surfaces (13).

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring the distribution of a chemical species within a defined space, for example a vessel such as an internal combustion engine cylinder. A plurality of radiation sources and radiation detectors are distributed around the perimeter of the vessel. The radiation sources are distributed to emit beams of radiation across the interior of the vessel, the wavelength of the radiation being selected such that an interaction such as fluorescence or absorption occurs between the radiation and the chemical species which can be detected by the detectors. A representation of the distribution of the chemical species within the vessel can then be derived from the detected interactions by conventional tomography techniques.

Abstract: An apparatus for the high-frequency treatment of body tissue comprises a head (10) which is provided with at least one HF electrode (14a, 14b, 14c) of an electrically conductive material. Optionally one electrode (14a, 14b) can be brought into contact with the tissue (24) to be treated and electrically activated. In order to avoid undesired temperature peaks provisions are made that the head supporting the HF electrode or the HF electrodes, respectively, comprises highly heat conductive portions (12) in order to dissipate heat generating at the HF electrode or the HF electrodes, respectively, in particular in the proximal direction.

Abstract: A propulsion module including a wave rotor detonation engine having a rotor with a plurality of fluid flow channels. The fluid flow channels extend between an inlet rotor plate, which has a pair of fixed inlet ports, and an outlet rotor plate, which has a pair of fixed outlet ports. The propulsion module includes a pair of inlet ducts have a stowed mode and a deployed mode. The pair of inlet ducts include a fluid flow passageway adapted to convey air to the pair of inlet ports. A fueling system is positioned prior to the inlet ports to deliver fuel into the air introduced through the pair of inlet ducts and into the pair of inlet ports. A pair of ignition chambers are disposed adjacent to the inlet rotor plate.

Abstract: A method of adjusting the stroke of a press brake having a movable beam (1) supporting a punch (2), a fixed beam (3) supporting a die (4), means of displacing (5, 5′) the movable beam with respect to the fixed beam, said displacement means resting on side frames (6, 6′) immovably attached to the fixed beam, linear encoders (9, 9′) for measuring the displacement of the movable beam with respect to the side frames, at least one sensor (8, 8′) measuring a physical parameter (p) varying with the force exerted by said punch on a metal sheet placed on said die, and an electronic device for controlling (7) the bending movement controlling the speed of said displacement movement between top dead center and bottom dead center (BDC), provided with a calculation means for correcting the value of said bottom dead center depending on the measurement of said displacement and said physical parameter.

Abstract: This invention relates to methods and instruments for performing a surgical procedure in a disc space between adjacent vertebrae. A cannula is inserted to create a working channel through the skin and tissue of a patient using a transforaminal approach to the disc space. A viewing element is used to visualize working end of the cannula and the disc space. A facetectomy is performed through the working channel to access the disc space. The disc space is prepared with various instruments, such as distractors, shims, chisels and distractor-cutters that extend through the working channel. At least implant is inserted into the disc space. The procedure allows bi-lateral support of the adjacent vertebrae with the at least one implant inserted via a unitary, minimally invasive approach to disc space.

Abstract: An engine crankcase gas blow-by sensor. In a closed crankcase ventilation system, crankcase gases are caused to flow through a venturi which includes high pressure and low pressure taps. The high and low pressure taps are coupled to a differential pressure transducer which produces an output that is proportional to the volumetric flow of crankcase gases through the venturi. The use of a venturi in conjunction with a differential pressure sensor offers a low resistance path for the flow of crankcase gases and allows continuous monitoring of blow-by without exceeding the operating pressure limitations of various oil seals. Such a sensor is particularly suited for closed crankcase ventilation (ccv) systems, as it doesn't require venting of crankcase gases to the atmosphere, but works well in open crankcase ventilation systems also.

Abstract: A cover encloses a filter cartridge in an outer housing. The cover has an unfiltered fluid inlet channel and a concentric filtered fluid outlet channel. The filter cartridge includes a filter media with a central passage. An upper endplate is provided on the upper end of the filter media, and the upper endplate has oblong openings defined therein. A separate seal retainer is attached to the upper endplate. The retainer has an outer body portion and a concentric inner body portion extending from the outer body portion. The outer body portion has a lower outwardly opening channel, and the inner body portion has an upper outwardly opening channel. An outer seal is provided in the lower channel to seal the filter cartridge with the housing. An inner seal is provided in upper channel to seal the inlet channel from the outlet channel in the cover.

Abstract: A system for anchoring of a tanker near an offshore production unit (1) which is anchored by means of a number of anchor lines (2, 14) and associated anchors, and from which a tanker (3) in use of the system is supplied with oil or gas. The system comprises a first and a second pair of bottom-anchored buoys (13 resp. 15) located before or behind the production unit (1), as seen in the prevailing weather direction (W), and at a chosen distance from the production unit (1). The buoys (13) of the first pair are located closer to the production unit (1) than the buoys (15) of the second pair, and the buoys (13 resp. 15) of each pair has a chosen mutual distance transversely to said weather direction (W), so that a tanker (3) may be moored in the region between the buoys (13, 15) with the fore-and-aft direction essentially coinciding with said weather direction (W).

Abstract: A variable angle connection between a spinal rod and a vertebral anchor with a clevis to attach to the vertebral anchor, permitting the vertebral anchor to be longitudinally offset from the connecting point on the rod. The connection assembly has a bolt with an aperture for receiving a portion of the spinal implant rod at one end. The assembly also has a clevis. The clevis defines a bore to hold a portion of the vertebral anchor and the ears of the clevis have holes through which the bolt is located with the rotably connected to the ears. The assembly also has a rod interface washer positioned over a portion of the bolt, between the aperture of the bolt and the inside ear of the clevis. The rod interface washer is partly movable between the aperture of the bolt and the clevis, but the washer is fixed against rotating in relation to the bolt.

Abstract: A method of ultrasound imaging, including the following steps, transmitting ultrasonic beams generated by transducers (20) into an object volume (v) such as an object body or a part thereof, receiving (20) and storing (3) signals reflected from said object volume, processing and receiving signals into image data associated to image dots or lines of a video display (8), and displaying at least a few image data on the display (8) in accordance with parameters set by a user and related to a predetermined section or projection plane of the image of said object volume. According to the invention, scanning is only performed in the region of the object body which coincides with the section plane or the image projection plane (P) of the object volume along which imaging is to be performed.

Abstract: A fluid filter for spin-on mounting to a base includes an outer shell defining a hollow interior and a nutplate secured to the outer shell by forming an upper edge portion of the outer shell onto the nutplate. A filtering element is positioned within the hollow interior and the base provides fluid-in and fluid-out passageways for the fluid filter. To provide a face seal against the base and concurrently a radial seal against the formed edge, a retainer and gasket assembly is used. The retainer has a base portion which rests on the nutplate and an inclined portion which extends upwardly and inwardly. An elastomeric gasket with a unique cross sectional shape has a flat portion which rests on the inclined portion. With axial compression of the gasket by the base, the gasket compresses against the retainer and expands radially into sealing contact with the formed edge.