Abstract: A dispenser and a means to be held by the dispenser. The means holding a plurality of units to be dispensed one or more at the time. Access to the units taking place via an upper surface of the means. This upper surface may be covered by the dispenser in order to prevent access to the surface while held by the dispenser. The means being bendable away from a rest position, and the dispenser biasing the means away from the rest position in order to maintain the means therein. The dispenser may have an edge portion preventing unintended ejection of the means from the dispenser.

Abstract: A procedure for extracting features from phonocardiographic signals without the use of synchronizing information from electrocardiographic signals. The features extracted are the timing and value of first and second heart sounds and various combinations of timing and value of signal components constituting heart murmur. Such combinations are directly related to various heart conditions, which are more easily diagnosable by a medically trained person when assisted by the signal extraction. The features are extracted by a novel combination of energy/time relationships for the heart signal and various novel classification schemes.

Abstract: A heart signal comprising both first and second heart sounds and murmurs occurring due to various heart conditions is modeled by a sum of sinusoids automatically selected to represent the heart sound without a noise component. In an analysis step the signal parameters are measured, in an interpolation and transformation part ?(t) and A(t) are interpolated from one window position to the next window position, and a synthesis part reconstructs the transformed heart signal. The transformations are transformations in either time scale (with unchanged frequency content) or frequency scale (with unchanged time progression), or both. Furthermore a dynamic transformation of an arbitrary heart signal to a fixed number of beats per minute is made possible.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a mechanical blocking device by means of which the user will only be able to initiate an event by activating a stroke of the button or lever past the activation point of the event. Should the movement of the button or lever be stopped or the direction changed before reaching the activation point, retaining means will hinder further movement in the first direction before the lever or button has been brought back to its starting position.

Abstract: Traditional cuffs for measuring blood pressure use an air chamber enclosed in a non-stretchable fabric to occlude an artery in a limb when supplied with pressurised air. A stethoscope used on the limb is used to monitor blood flow. Application of the cuff is inconvenient and correct placement of the stethoscope chestpiece requires skill. According to the invention blood pressure measurement is facilitated by having the air chamber enclosed in a pre-formed shell-like structure being flexible around the limb and stiff along the limb and by using a linear array of microphones to detect the blood flow noises, the best signal from one of the microphones being automatically selected. Furthermore, the invention provides a facility for correcting the reading in dependence of the amount of wrap of the limb.

Abstract: A medical dispenser being adapted to hold a number of medical doses and being adapted to determine when a user or patient gains access to one or more of the medical doses, the dispenser comprising: means for determining each of a first plurality of points in time or time intervals at which the user or patient should take a medical dose, means for detecting each of a second plurality of points in time where the user or patient gained access to the medical doses, means for providing to the user or patient information relating to a relation between the first and second pluralities, and wherein the providing means are adapted to, if the user gains access to the medication multiple times per point in time or time interval in the first plurality of points in time or time intervals, provide information relating to a relation between the pairs of one of the firs plurality of points in time or time intervals and a first of the second plurality of points in time occurring after the pertaining point in time of the first

Abstract: In well-known electronic stethoscopic transducers the sensitive element is influenced by signals transmitted via the skin, and the rear side is enclosed in a housing to prevent airborne noise from reaching the sensitive element. According to the invention, an improved signal-to-noise ratio is obtained by letting the transducer be a piezoelectric transflexural diaphragm in contact with the skin, the rear side of the diaphragm communicating with the surronding air via an acoustical network, thereby receiving airborne noise which acts to counteract the influence of noise coming from the skin.

Abstract: Traditional cuffs for measuring blood pressure use an air chamber enclosed in a non-stretchable fabric to occlude an artery in a limb when supplied with pressurised air. A stethoscope used on the limb is used to monitor blood flow. Application of the cuff is inconvenient and correct placement of the stethoscope chestpiece requires skill. According to the invention blood pressure measurement is facilitated by having the air chamber enclosed in a pre-formed shell-like structure being flexible around the limb and stiff along the limb and by using a linear array of microphones to detect the blood flow noises, the best signal from one of the microphones being automatically selected. Furthermore, the invention provides a facility for correcting the reading in dependence of the amount of wrap of the limb.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for dispensing of tablets from an apparatus constituting a dispenser for tablets contained in a blister pack. The invention also relates to such apparatuses and to uses of such apparatuses. The invention makes use of an apparatus the operating of which greatly increases the facility of using the apparatus, increases the resistance towards tampering the apparatus and facilitates reducing the size of the apparatus when not in use.