Abstract: A tracheal tube has an extruded suction lumen extending along its length on the outside of the curvature of the tube. The suction lumen opens internally to the main lumen through a series of holes, which increase in size towards the patient end of the tube. Towards the machine end of the tube, the suction lumen is connected to a suction source by which suction is applied to the suction lumen to remove secretions that collect inside the tube.

Abstract: A filter has a series of porous, compressible filter elements sealed at their outer edge by a collar of silicone rubber that is flowed into the filter elements. The collar seals with an annular recess around the inside of a filter housing so that flow through the housing is confined to the filter elements without any compression of them.

Abstract: The pressurization period of an autoclave is controlled by an oscillator which provides an output to the autoclave control unit. The control unit has a microprocessor with its own clock. The number of times that a portion of the program is carried out by the microprocessor during the pressurization period of the autoclave, is counted into a register to decrease a separately established count in the register. This separately established count is representative of the correct operating time of the pressurization period. If, at the end of the pressurization period, the count in the register exceeds zero by more than an allowable error, a fault indication is produced on a display and the autoclave door is maintained locked so as to prevent access to articles in the autoclave.

Abstract: An aircraft threat monitoring system has several sensors responsive to a potential threat external to the aircraft such as a radar warning receiver, a radar sensor, a missile approach warning receiver, a forward-looking infrared detector and an electro-optic sensor. Each sensor has a respective inference processor the outputs of which are supplied to a groundspace map manager and an airspace map manager. The map managers collate the processor outputs to derive a threat output signal which is supplied to a planner programmed with tactical route information. The map managers also control operation of the sensors such as by modifying their sensitivity, scan or frequency in accordance with the output from other sensors.

Abstract: An optical fibre connector or similar entry for an optical fibre cable to an aperture in a enclosure has a metal shell supporting a resilient insert made of an elastomeric polymer loaded with up to about 30% of a material such as carbon particles so that the insert is absorptive of microwave energy at wavelengths similar to the size of the aperture. The faces of the insert have electrically-conductive layers thereon. The optical fibres of the cable are terminated in metal ferrules supported in apertures in the insert.