Abstract: A cuffed silicone tracheostomy tube has two tapered recesses (17) and (18) on its outer surface in which opposite ends (7) and (8) of a resilient cuff 6 are bonded using an adhesive or solvent. Two shallow ribs (22) and (23) extend around the tube on the inner edge of each recess (17) and (18), projecting outwardly to prevent the adhesive or solvent spreading onto the inflatable portion (10) of the cuff (6). The cuff (6) has several shallow ribs (9) extending around the cuff and spaced along its inflatable portion (10) to promote even inflation.

Abstract: A cuffed silicone tracheostomy tube has two tapered recesses 17 and 18 on its outer surface in which opposite ends 7 and 8 of a resilient cuff 6 are bonded using an adhesive or solvent. Two shallow ribs 22 and 23 extend around the tube on the inner edge of each recess 17 and 18, projecting outwardly to prevent the adhesive or solvent spreading onto the inflatable portion 10 of the cuff 6. The cuff 6 has several shallow ribs 9 extending around the cuff and spaced along its inflatable portion 10 to promote even inflation.

Abstract: A tracheostomy assembly has an outer tube and an inner cannula, the outer tube having a lip at its patient end to limit insertion of the inner cannula. The lip is formed with a recess or gap on the outside of the curve of the tube. This enables a suction catheter or similar device to be slid along the tube, after removal of the inner cannula, without the risk of catching on the lip.

Abstract: A tracheostomy dilator is curved along its length having a tapering patient end region (5) at one end and an oppositely curved handle region (7) at its opposite end. A passage (10) extends rearwardly along the dilator from its patient end (4) and opens on a side of the dilator at an opening (12) in the handle region (7). The passage (10) is blocked rearwardly of the opening (12) by an insert (2) with a forward ramp surface (23), which directs a guidewire (30). In use, one end of the guidewire (30) projects from the patient end (4) of the dilator and its opposite end extends along the outside of the handle region (7).

Abstract: A tracheostomy tube has a sealing cuff inflated by an inflation tube extending in a channel along one side of the tracheostomy tube. A suction tube extends in a channel along the opposite side of the tracheostomy tube. The suction tube extends to the upper end of the sealing cuff and opens into a recess on the outside of the tracheostomy tube through a side opening oriented at right angles to the radius of the tracheostomy tube. The recess extends around about 90° of the tube towards its outer curve so that secretions collecting in this region can be removed.

Abstract: An aircraft fuel-gauging system has flowmeters at the inlet and outlet of a fuel tank. The output of the flowmeters is used to compute the height and volume either of a localised elevated region above the inlet, where fuel flows into the tank, or of a localised depressed region above the outlet where fuel flows out of the tank. Where the gauging probes are located away from the region of the inlet or outlet, the volume derived from the probes is corrected by adding the volume of the elevated region or by subtracting the volume of the depressed region. Where the gauging probes are located in the region of the inlet or outlet, the height output of the probe is corrected either by subtracting the height of the elevated region or by adding the height of the depressed region. The volume is computed from these corrected heights and further corrected by adding the volume of the elevated region or by subtracting the volume of the depressed region.

Abstract: A syringe pump has a drive mechanism for moving the plunger of a syringe along a barrel. Ears at the rear of the barrel engage against a wall on the pump and an L shape clamp arm is urged against the ears by a spring. The clamp arm is mounted about an axis at right-angles to the syringe and is articulated at a point along its length. A lever having a flag at one end is pivoted about a horizontal axis by movement of the arm and moves relative to an optical sensor so that the output of the sensor indicates whether the syringe is correctly loaded in the pump. The clamp arm is rotated away from the barrel by the drive mechanism during loading of the syringe.

Abstract: An epidural catheter retainer has an integral base and hinged lid. The base is attached to the skin and has a side opening through which the catheter can be inserted sideways into the retainer. A channel extends laterally across the base and has protrusions to grip the catheter. When the lid is closed, it covers the side opening and is held down by a catch. The underside of the lid has teeth or the like to grip the upper side of the catheter so that the retainer isolates that part of the catheter in the body from force exerted on its other end.

Abstract: A connector system comprises at least three different connectors each having a common width and a different depth. Each connector is made up of a block and two housing parts. The housing parts are selected from a group of parts of different depths such that the smallest connector can be made from two identical parts of the smallest depth, the largest can be made from two identical parts of the largest depth and intermediate sizes can be made from combinations of parts of different depths.