Abstract: A wall in which there is formed at least one cooling channel, said wall being cooled by cool air flowing in the channel, the channel comprising a hole and a diffusion portion, the hole opening out at one end into the inside surface of the wall, and at its other end into the diffusion portion where it forms an orifice, the diffusion portion flaring around said orifice and opening out into the outside surface of the wall, the diffusion portion having a bottom whose front end is substantially plane, sloping, and extending in front of the orifice, and also having a margin extending behind, round the sides, and in front of the orifice, said margin joining the sides of the front end. A method and an electrode for making such a cooling channel. A turbomachine blade presenting such a wall.

Abstract: An aerosolization apparatus comprises a body defining an inlet opening, an outlet opening, and an aerosolization chamber between the inlet opening and the outlet opening. The aerosolization chamber is adapted to receive an elongated receptacle, such as a capsule, containing a pharmaceutical formulation. The elongated receptacle rotates end-over-end about an axis substantially orthogonal to an axis passing through the outlet opening when air or gas flows through the body. In another version, the elongated receptacle rotates end-over-end about an axis substantially orthogonal to an inhalation direction.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus is characterized by an intubation-tube placement device; and an intubation tube secured to the intubation-tube placement device. In another embodiment, an apparatus is characterized by an intubation-tube placement device; and an anti-perforation device coupled to the intubation-tube placement device. In another embodiment, an apparatus is characterized by an intubation-tube placement device; and at least one tactile-accentuator flap coupled to the intubation-tube placement device. In another embodiment, an apparatus is characterized by an intubation-tube placement device; and a handle affixed to the intubation-tube placement device.

Abstract: A disposable inhaler for administering medicament by inhalation having an inhalation channel through which a user may inhale, a container for containing a dose of medicament, at least one subsidiary container for containing a subsidiary dose of medicament and respective release means for selectively opening one or both of said container and said subsidiary container such that one or both of said dose and said subsidiary dose may be released into said inhalation channel at the same time so as to provide a variable dose and methods of providing a variable quantity of substance in a channel comprising opening a first container containing the substance and selectively opening a second container containing the substance.

Abstract: The present invention concerns movement facilitation devices for facilitating movement between a first portion of a first object and a second portion of the first object. One or more of the movement facilitation devices may be combined to form a movement device for facilitating movement of at least one joint or limb of a patient's body. One form of a movement device according to the invention is a glove which at least partially encloses the joint or limb. The invention also encompasses systems for applying Continuous Passive Motion therapy to a joint or limb of a patient using the devices of the invention. The invention also encompasses the use of shape memory materials and of conducting polymers in the devices and systems of the invention, as well as the design of force transducers and actuators that may be used in the devices.

Abstract: A thin profile PAPR filter blower system and method of use that operates in conjunction with a thin profile filter cartridge. The design allows an unaided user to swap filter cartridges without compromising the safety of the user, even when the user is located in a contaminated environment. Other components of the system include a blower control mechanism, a short conduit for delivering filtered air to a worn face mask, a self-contained power supply, optional attachment features to secure the system to a wearer's body, features for sealably connecting and replacing filter cartridges, and a quick change locking mechanism to secure and release filter cartridges. An optional remotely located control device is also provided.

Abstract: An inhalator composed of a main body affording an inhalation conduit; a second body exhibiting a housing, into which a capsule can be at least partially inserted; the second body being rotatably coupled with the main body, and being able to rotate from an open position, in which the housing is accessible from outside for insertion of a capsule, and a closed position, in which the housing is in communication with the inhalation conduit; means for cutting off a portion of a capsule which projects from the housing during rotation of the second body from the open position to the closed position.

Abstract: A medicament dispenser including a housing, a medicament container having a dispensing outlet; an agitator for agitating the contents; and a driver for driving the agitator independent of any container movement. The driver includes an energy storeage for storing energy releasable to drive the agitator. The medicament container may be a metered dose inhaler or delivering a suitable inhalable medicament.

Abstract: A nasal mask comprising a pair of main bodies, which respectively form a containing space having an open end and a through-hole end; a connection which connects the edges of the opening ends of the main bodies; and a filtration device disposed inside the containing space of the main bodies. An alar projection is disposed at the upper brim of the opening end of the main bodies, which seals with the superior alar nasi of the nasal cavity. The main bodies forms a structure sealed with the nasal cavity. The main bodies of the nasal mask is made of soft elastic material and seals with the nasal cavity through the arrangement of an alar projection at the upper margin of the opening end of said main bodies that provides the wearer a sense of comfort.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for detecting the start of a dive for implementation in a portable electronic device (1) of the diving computer type. More specifically, the method is for implementation in a device of this type having at least a first operating mode and a second operating mode, called the dive mode. This device includes a pressure sensor (5) for measuring the ambient pressure value (P) and electronic circuits (2) for processing the pressure measurement results including a time base (4) and at least one memory zone (7, 8). The detection method according to the present invention more particularly proposes making correction to certain measured pressure values before storing them as reference pressure values (Pref). Thus, the start of a dive can be detected with a high level of reliability solely on the basis of ambient pressure measurements.

Abstract: A massage base having a top surface contains at least one massage node base wherein the massage node base is motile in relation to the massage base. At least one massage node is mounted on each of the massage node bases and at least partially protrudes from the top surface. The massage node is mounted for rote movement in relation to the massage base. A motor, connected to the massage node base, engages the massage node in rote movement in relation to the massage base.

Abstract: The medicament dispenser has a base unit and a replaceable refill container. The base unit has one or more sensors for sensing one or more conditions of the medicament dispenser and a display for displaying indicia representing a state of the medicament dispenser. First indicia show the base unit and/or the refill container and define a contained area suitable for representing a condition of the medicament dispenser. Second indicia are used to represent at least one sensed condition of the medicament dispenser and are displayed in the contained area defined by the first indicia.

Abstract: An interface mechanism is provided that removably unites a carbon dioxide absorption canister with a patient breathing circuit on a ventilator. The interface mechanism includes a cradle that is moveably positioned between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position, the canister is coupled to the cradle and the cradle is positioned such that the canister is in fluid communication with the breathing circuit. In the second position, the canister is removable from the cradle and the cradle extends at an angle from the patient breathing circuit. The interface mechanism advantageously provides visual indication when the canister is removed and the breathing circuit is operating as a closed loop system, without CO2 filtration. The mechanism also facilitates efficient and accurate fluid connection between the carbon dioxide absorption canister and the breathing circuit.

Abstract: To provide a pressure-sensitive adhesive component that can be quickly and easily used to fix an ankle joint by persons having no expert knowledge on taping without causing problems such as difficulty in wearing shoes due to thickening upon application of the tape, a pressure-sensitive adhesive component includes a bottom portion; a first tape-shaped body; and a second tape-shaped body, wherein a cut is provided between the first and second tape-shaped bodies running in a longitudinal direction, the first tape-shaped body including a first front tape body and a first rear tape body, and the second tape-shaped body including a second front tape body and a second rear tape body, and wherein a ratio of a width of the front tape body to a width of the rear tape body is within the range of 5:5 to 5:3.

Abstract: A nasal ventilation interface including a pair of tubes configured to deliver a ventilation gas. The tubes are attachable at a first end to a ventilation gas supply hose and engageable at a second end with a person's nostril. A coupler is configured to align the pair of tubes with the person's nostrils, wherein each tube has an absence of pneumatic interconnection with the other tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of the submarine valve actuators, and specifically to those actuators, that in order to effect a standard valve closing operation are connected to an oleo system feeding an hydraulic cylinder (1), whose plunger (3), by a mechanical link, operates the valve and compresses a spring (8) which provides for the standard opening operation. Said actuators are provided with an input shaft (21) for connectin a ROV for valve opening and closing operations when there is a failure in the oleo system. The connection between the ROV-operated input shaft (21) and the mechanical link between the piston (3) and the spring (8) is carried out by a planetary gear reducer (15).

Abstract: An inhalation device is described for use with a medicament pack in which at least one container for medicament in powder form is defined between two sheets peelably secured to one another. The device comprises means for peeling the sheets apart at an opening station to open the container; and an outlet, communicating with the opened container, through which a user can inhale medicament in powder form from the opened container.

Abstract: There is provided a propellant-operable self-activating and self-returning metering valve for an aerosol container for dispensing a formulation comprising a substance in a fluid propellant contained therein. There is also provided a canister for use in a metered dose inhaler having the valve thereon.

Abstract: The present invention provides a snore detection device comprising a pressure sensor for detecting vibration generated by the human body with respiration, a sound sensor for detecting sound generated by the human body with respiration, and a judging circuit for judging the occurrence of snoring based on output signals of the two sensors. The judging circuit detects a peak occurrence time in variations generated by the output signal of the pressure sensor and a peak occurrence time in variations generated by the output signal of the sound sensor, to judge whether snoring occurs based on the peak occurrence times, respectively, of vibration and sound.

Abstract: A powder inhalator comprising: a housing; a supply member for holding a powdered drug for a large number of doses and having a drug discharge aperture at its bottom surface; a drug carrier, to which the powdered drug is supplied from the drug discharge aperture of the supply member, and having on its upper surface a measuring recess that has a volume equivalent to one dose of the drug; and an operation member disposed so as to move freely back and forth, and operate the drug carrier; the drug carrier moving in contact with the bottom surface of the supply member to carry the powdered drug loaded into the measuring recess from the position of the drug discharge aperture to an air inhalation channel, wherein the drug carrier is disposed slidably so that the measuring recess moves in a circular manner by sliding the drug carrier.