Abstract: A distributed system and a corresponding data processing method are disclosed, for decomposing audio signals including mixed audio sources. The system comprises at least one client terminal, a remote queuing module and at least one remote audio data processing module connected in a network. A client terminal stores source audio signal data, selects at least one signal decomposition type, uploads source audio signal data with data representative of the decomposition type selection to the queuing module, and downloads decomposed audio signal data. The queuing module queues uploaded source audio data and distributes same to data processing module(s). The queuing module also queues uploaded decomposed audio signal data and distributes same to client terminal(s). An audio data processing module processes distributed source audio data into decomposed audio signal data according to the type selection, and uploads decomposed audio signal data to the at least one remote queuing resource.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluorescence sensing system comprising a light source (5) for exciting a sensor material (10), a photo-detector (15) for collecting the fluorescence emitted from the sensor material and a controller (20) coupled to the photo-detector; wherein the controller is configured to perform measurements on the fluorescence signal collected by the photo-detector and adjust the output power of the light source based on the measurements.

Abstract: A wood veneer product (1) comprises one or more layers of wood veneer (2). A backing layer (4), for example a cellulose-based backing layer, has a first outer surface bonded to the one or more layers of wod veneer (2). Electrically conductive tracking (8) is arranged on or against a second outer surface of the backing layer (4) opposite to the first outer surface.

Abstract: A tympanostomy tube applicator has a hand-held housing and a stem extending from the housing and having a shape arranged for engagement in the ear canal. A tympanostomy tube inserter has a user actuator, a rod having a tip to pierce a patient's tympanic membrane and to support a tympanostomy tube through the membrane where it is pierced. The inserter inserts a collapsed tympanostomy tube through the membrane and expands the tube in situ to provide a distal flange in the tympanostomy tube. A myrongotomy tip expands the tube to a final state having a distal flange as it is retracted.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fluorescence sensing system comprising a light source (5) for exciting a sensor material (10), a photo-detector (15) for collecting the fluorescence emitted from the sensor material and a controller (20) coupled to the photo-detector; wherein the controller is configured to perform measurements on the fluorescence signal collected by the photo-detector and adjust the output power of the light source based on the measurements.

Abstract: A tympanostomy tube applicator has a hand-held housing and a stem extending from the housing and having a shape arranged for engagement in the ear canal. A tympanostomy tube inserter has a user actuator, a rod having a tip to pierce a patient's tympanic membrane and to support a tympanostomy tube through the membrane where it is pierced. The inserter inserts a collapsed tympanostomy tube through the membrane and expands the tube in situ to provide a distal flange in the tympanostomy tube. A myrongotomy tip expands the tube to a final state having a distal flange as it is retracted.

Abstract: A tympanostomy tube applicator has a hand-held housing and a stem extending from the housing and having a shape arranged for engagement in the ear canal. A tympanostomy tube inserter has a user actuator, a rod having a tip to pierce a patient's tympanic membrane and to support a tympanostomy tube through the membrane where it is pierced. The inserter inserts a collapsed tympanostomy tube through the membrane and expands the tube in situ to provide a distal flange in the tympanostomy tube. A myrongotomy tip expands the tube to a final state having a distal flange as it is retracted.

Abstract: An educational apparatus has a controller linked with student devices, and a teacher device. Each student device is in the form of a desk with a board, a touch sensor array in the board, a display physically separate from the array, and permanent indicia. The apparatus recognises touch by a student on the board, and this is mapped to content of an overlay sheet of paper placed on the board. Moreover, multiple devices may be juxtaposed, and events may be recognised based on all of the group of devices together. An example is a paper sheet covering four devices together and having a map printed on it, in which the software recognised a particular location of touch on a particular device as being a specific region on the map.

Abstract: A bubble entrapment device includes at least one entrapment chamber between an inlet and an outlet. The chamber outlet port is approximately in the center, and so bubbles will rise in the chamber into a space above the chamber outlet port.

Abstract: An intramedullary nail has a proximal part for engagement with a proximal bone fragment and a distal part for engagement with a distal bone fragment. A motion assembly interconnects the parts and allows limited axial relative motion of the proximal and distal parts. This limited axial motion provides micromotion and in some embodiments also dynamization. The nail may comprise a stem for fastening to one bone fragment and an insert within the stem for fastening to the other bone fragment, the insert being adapted to guide insertion of a bone screw through the stem and to prevent relative rotation of the distal and proximal bone fragments. The motion assembly may include spring bias and/or damping means between the parts, possibly including one or more Belleville washers.

Abstract: A location and tracking system has wireless base stations, an input interface, and a processor. It receives initial physical environment inputs for an environment, with default signal attenuation values for wall and obstacle segments. An initial channel parameters fingerprint of projected signal strengths in the environment is generated according to the initial physical environment model. The processor simulates motion of the node along a hth trajectory to create a corresponding fitness function describing how similar the channel parameters estimated along the hth trajectory by the prediction model are to gathered channel parameters by the mobile node along its trajectory. The model and the fingerprint are subsequently modified in iterations as possible mobile node trajectories are determined to perform location error estimation which takes into account the re-calculated fingerprint and gathered channel parameters and the hth trajectory as a ground truth.

Abstract: A tympanostomy tube applicator has a hand-held housing and a stem extending from the housing and having a shape arranged for engagement in the ear canal. A tympanostomy tube inserter has a user actuator, a rod having a tip to pierce a patient's tympanic membrane and to support a tympanostomy tube through the membrane where it is pierced. The inserter inserts a collapsed tympanostomy tube through the membrane and expands the tube in situ to provide a distal flange in the tympanostomy tube. A myrongotomy tip expands the tube to a final state having a distal flange as it is retracted.

Abstract: An intramedullary nail has a proximal part for engagement with a proximal bone fragment and a distal part for engagement with a distal bone fragment. A motion assembly interconnects the parts and allows limited axial relative motion of the proximal and distal parts. This limited axial motion provides micromotion and in some embodiments also dynamization. The nail may comprise a stem for fastening to one bone fragment and an insert within the stem for fastening to the other bone fragment, the insert being adapted to guide insertion of a bone screw through the stem and to prevent relative rotation of the distal and proximal bone fragments. The motion assembly may include spring bias and/or damping means between the parts, possibly including one or more Belleville washers.

Abstract: A bubble entrapment device includes at least one entrapment chamber between an inlet and an outlet. The chamber outlet port is approximately in the centre, and so bubbles will rise in the chamber into a space above the chamber outlet port.

Abstract: An intramedullary nail has a proximal part for engagement with a proximal bone fragment and a distal part for engagement with a distal bone fragment. A motion assembly interconnects the parts and allows limited axial relative motion of the proximal and distal parts. This limited axial motion provides micromotion and in some embodiments also dynamisation. The nail may comprise a stem for fastening to one bone fragment and an insert within the stem for fastening to the other bone fragment, the insert being adapted to guide insertion of a bone screw through the stem and to prevent relative rotation of the distal and proximal bone fragments. The motion assembly may include spring bias and/or damping means between the parts, possibly including one or more Belleville washers.