Abstract: A surgical instrument includes a plurality of segments which can be moved relative to each other from a first position in which the segments extend in a straight direction and can be inserted through an opening in a body to a second position in which segments are brought tight against each other to cause the instrument to go round a bend. The segments are brought tight against each other by pulling a flexible element extending through the segments from a part of the instrument located outside of the body. Scissors or gripping means may be located at the free end of the instrument within the body, and these scissors or gripping means may be operated from outside of the body.

Abstract: The method for making a low resin content polymer concrete article includes the steps of: supplying a quantity of polymer or monomer resin; adding a non-reactive solvent, vehicle, dispersant or diluent to the resin; supplying the mixture of diluent and resin to a mixing station; supplying filler material to the mixing station; mixing the diluent, resin and filler material at the mixing station; supplying the resultant mixture to an eduction chamber; educing the non-reactive diluent from the eduction chamber; and supplying the resulting mixture with diluent educed to a forming station for shaping and curing.

Abstract: The suction and light guide assembly is positionable within a vertical tube of a suction head in an electronic component holding apparatus having a transparent lower plate attached to a lower end of the vertical tube. The assembly comprises a solid elongate optical element positioned in and extending substantially the length of the vertical tube. The optical element has a top surface, a bottom surface and an outer peripheral surface. The optical element also has an axial passage within the body extending upwardly from the bottom surface part way through the optical element and at least one generally radially extending passage communicating with the axial passage and extending to the outer peripheral surface of the optical element. The optical element is positioned within the tubular member in an air-tight manner.