Abstract: A connector backshell contains a wad of wire wool encapsulated in an elastomeric silicone. Screened cables extend through passages through the wad and have their braided screening sleeves exposed within the passages. The wire wool is exposed within the passages and on the outside of the wad so that it electrically connects the screening sleeves with the inside of the backshell.

Abstract: A connector for a bundle of screened wires has grounding wires connecting the housing with the screens of the wires. Each screen projects in a tubular portion of a respective metal connection device together with one end of a grounding wire. The tubular portion is crimped to a C-shape in section so that it lies closely against the wire. A support tail of concave section extends rearwardly from the tubular portion and is attached to the outside of the wire.

Abstract: An obturator for a tracheostomy tube has a strap extending along its length between a nose at its patient end and a machine end with clips that fasten to a coupling on the tube. The strap has one web extending along its entire length and a second web extending orthogonally on one side of the first web to form a T shape section along the major part of the strap towards its patient end. This makes the patient end of the strap relatively rigid whilst its machine end is relatively flexible to enable the machine end to be twisted to release the engagement of the clips and to enable the obturator to be pulled out of the tube.

Abstract: An electrical connector has a forward assembly with an outer metal housing supporting several insulative blocks containing the connector contacts. The rear end of each contact has a socket into which is inserted the forward end of conductors contained in a rear assembly. Some of the conductors are filtered and others unfiltered. Connection is made to the rear end of the conductors in the rear assembly by means of plates connected at the end of a cable, the plates supporting contacts that are a push-fit in the rear of the conductors in the rear assembly.

Abstract: An aircraft has several ultrasonic phased arrays acoustically bonded to parts of its structure to be monitored. The arrays are energized to produce an ultrasonic beam that scans the structure in two planes. A monitor receives the output from the arrays produced by reflection of energy from discontinuities within the structure. When there is a change in these outputs, the monitor signals a pilot display unit and a flight control system such that the aircraft flight envelope can be restricted to minimize damage.

Abstract: A needle protector assembly for protecting a needle tip after it has been withdrawn from a catheter has a protective housing into which the needle is slid. A device at the patient end of the housing has two locking arms sprung outwardly away from one another, which engage projections on the hub of the catheter. A shutter plate and finger project inwardly from the locking arms and each has a catch that engages one another. The finger is sprung rearwardly away from the shutter plate but is held forwardly by a trigger lever engaging the side of the needle. When the needle is withdrawn into the housing, the trigger lever springs down allowing the finger to move rearwardly away from the shutter plate, thereby disengaging the catches. This allows the locking arms to spring outwardly and disengage the catheter hub, so that the assembly can be removed from the catheter.

Abstract: A flat panel lamp has internal walls forming a serpentine discharge path between two internal electrodes. Two glow mode electrodes in the form of interdigitated combs are laid on the outside of the front panel of the lamp, on top of the walls. The internal electrodes are connected to a first drive circuit; the glow mode electrodes are connected to a second drive circuit, which drives them at a frequency of about 10 MHz. At high brightness, only the internal electrodes are operative; at low brightness, only the glow mode electrodes are operative; and at intermediate brightness the two sets of electrodes are alternately energized.

Abstract: A laryngeal mask assembly has an elliptical mask portion at the patient end of a tube. The mask portion has a mount attached to the tube and a cuff extending around the periphery of the mount. The patient end of the tube opens into the center of the mount, which has three lateral ribs projecting forwardly and extending parallel and spaced from one another. The forward end of the ribs have a concave profile with rounded projections at each end. The ribs act to hold the epiglottis away from the tube opening during insertion of the assembly and to provide an air passage into the tube.

Abstract: An hydraulic bath seat lift has a hydraulic cylinder assembly comprising an inner cylinder fixed with the floor and an outer cylinder, which can be raised and lowered by supplying hydraulic fluid to the assembly. The outer cylinder supports a seat at the end of a horizontal arm. The inner cylinder has a pin at its upper end projecting outwardly into one of two sets of longitudinal grooves along the inner surface of the outer cylinder to prevent the outer cylinder rotating relative to the inner cylinder. The grooves open into one another at the lower end of the outer cylinder so that when the outer cylinder is raised fully, to lift the seat above the bath, the cylinder can be rotated to swing the seat over the bath and then lowered with the pin engaging the other set of grooves.

Abstract: An hydraulic valve has a flow/pressure characteristic matched to that of a pump with which it is used. The valve has a housing with a fluid inlet in its side and an outlet at one end. A shuttle is movable along the housing under control of a proportional solenoid, to vary the amount by which an edge of the shuttle covers the inlet and thereby controls flow of fluid through the valve. The shuttle has a flange one end located between the inlet and outlet so that fluid flowing from the inlet to the outlet applies pressure to one side of the flange and displaces the shuttle to close the inlet. In this way, an increase in pressure tends to reduce the effective size of the inlet aperture to compensate for pressure variation.

Abstract: A connector backshell assembly has a metal-plated plastic cylinder with castellations at its rear end through the screens of cables are threaded. A cap embraces the castellations and has internal projections that project into recesses between the castellations. A coupling nut extends around the cylinder and bears against the rear end of the cap so that the cap is clamped onto the cylinder when the nut is screwed onto the rear of a connector. This clamps the screens between projections in the cap and the recesses in the cylinder so as to make electrical connection with the screens.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube has an inflatable cuff at its patient end enclosing a plate of generally triangular shape projecting forwardly of the patient end of the tube. When deflated, the cuff conforms to the external shape of the plate.

Abstract: A self-sealing needle injection hub has two resilient, elastomeric sealing members mounted adjacent one another in a housing, both having pierced passages through which a needle can be inserted. The outer member is thick and relatively rigid; the inner member is thinner and flexible. Both members are radially compressed by the housing, the inner member bowing away from the outer member at its center. The action of withdrawing a needle from the hub, combined with the pressure of blood on the inner member, maintains the inner member flat against the outer member, thereby further compressing the passage through the inner member.

Abstract: An endotracheal tube has a wall of PVC and a reinforcement filament of a harder plastics wound with a canted helical form so that adjacent turns of the filament slope at angles of 70.degree. and 80.degree. respectively in the plane of curvature of the tube.

Abstract: A current sensor assembly of planar form arranged for connection in series with an electrical circuit. The circuit includes a first and second conductor. The sensor assembly includes a first conductive member adapted to contact the second conductor in the circuit. A second conductive member is adapted to contact the second conductor in the circuit. A thin layer of conductive material is connected at one end to the first conductive member and at is other end to the second conductive member so that current flow in the circuit between the first and second conductors is via the thin layer. A support supports the thin layer along its entire length. At least a part of the support contacts the thin layer is electrically insulative. The thermal conductivity of the support is different at different points along the length of the layer so that heat disposition is different at the different points and hence the temperature rise caused by current flow through the layer is different.

Abstract: The mask portion at the patient end of a laryngeal mask assembly is formed by a mount member having an outwardly projecting, oval plate and by two separate semi-annular cuffs bonded to opposite sides of the plate. An inflation lumen opens into one cuff, the plate having several holes through it so that the inflation fluid flows also to the other cuff.

Abstract: Connection is made to the braided screening sleeves of wires in a cable by means of a resilient plastics clip of omega section including a metal insert attached with a fine wire. The clip resiliently urges the surface of the metal insert into contact with the screen so that it can be connected to ground by the fine wire. The clips are staggered along the length of the cable so that the overall diameter of the cable is not significantly increased in the region of the clips.

Abstract: An electrical coupling has a ring through which extend multiple screened wires. The ring has several longitudinally-extending integral splines projecting from its outer surface from which project a curved, circumferentially-extending spring arm on each side. The wires extend through the ring and their screening sleeves are folded over an end, contact surface of the ring and back along its outside, being retained under the spring arms. A metal cap fits over one end of the ring holding the sleeves against the contact surface and protecting them around the outside of the ring. The cap is held on the ring by a collar, which extends around its outside and screws onto a body member at the opposite end of the ring.

Abstract: A laryngeal mask assembly has a tubular shaft with a mask portion formed by a resilient skirt towards its patient end, which seals with tissue in the region of the hypopharynx. An inflatable cuff, with several annular reinforcing members, projects axially at the patient end of the assembly into the laryngeal inlet. Towards its patient end, the cuff has a flap that normally closes the passage through the cuff and prevents entry of the epiglottis. A pull cord attached with the flap enables the flap to be pulled to one side, deflecting the epiglottis and opening the passage through the cuff.

Abstract: A rate sensor has a tine cut from a silicon substrate and resiliently mounted by two integral flexure beams. An electrostatic actuator drives the tine to vibrate in its plane. The tine supports two tunnel pick-offs in the form of spikes projecting from the tine, the tips of the spikes being positioned below a pick-off plate. In operation, the plate is moved down until it is closely spaced from the spikes and a tunneling current is produced. One spike is positioned below a recess so that there is a sharp fall in current when the spike passes beneath the recess, this signal being used to indicate the amplitude and frequency of vibration. The tunneling current output from the other spike indicates the separation from the plate. Rotation of the sensor about an axis y in the plane of vibration of the tine causes displacement of the tine at right angles, which is sensed by the tunnel pick-off.