Abstract: The fatigue reduction device includes a frame configured to receive a handle substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the frame. A user-faceable portion of the frame is inwardly concave to conform to an arm of a user.

Abstract: The fatigue reduction device includes a frame configured to receive a handle substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the frame. A user-faceable portion of the frame is inwardly concave to conform to an arm of a user.

Abstract: A drive train for supplying power to a power tool may include, a motor, a motor shaft, a rotational coupling mechanism connected to the motor shaft, and a drive shaft connected to the rotational coupling mechanism that forms the shape of a “U.” A pair of enmeshed bevel gears transfers the motion from the motor shaft to an orthogonal tool bit. The drive train may also include a hammering device that transfers a rotational impacting motion to the tool bit. A hand power tool for driving a screw may include a tool shell with an integrally formed vertical handle, a rotational recess formed into the tool shell opposite the handle, and a tool chuck within the rotational recess that drives a screw. The tool may incorporate the drive train as described above. The tool may include a mechanism for locking the tool chuck in a particular position.

Abstract: A system, method, and moveable organizer The moveable organizer includes a stationary frame member having opposing sides. The moveable organizer further includes one or more trays. Each tray has opposing edges, at least one of the opposing edges carried by the stationary frame around the opposing sides of the stationary frame member.

Abstract: A storage system and associated method of assembling the storage system. The storage system includes one or more rails for attaching the storage system to a structure. The storage system further includes one or more arms attached to the one or more rails. The storage system further includes a counterbalance mechanism attached to the one or more arms configured to provide a force to assist lifting or lowering a load applied to the one or more lift arms. The storage system further includes a release for engaging the counterbalance mechanism to assist a user in raising or lowering the one or more lift arms.

Abstract: The fatigue reduction device includes a frame configured to receive a handle substantially perpendicularly to a longitudinal axis of the frame. A user-faceable portion of the frame is inwardly concave to conform to an arm of a user.

Abstract: A counterbalance system and lifting system for assisting a user. The system includes one or more arms, such as lift arms, that by user input from a user may be operated to raise and lower a load carried by a tray. The system further includes a counterbalance mechanism connected to the one or more arms configured to assist raising and lowering the loaded tray. The counterbalance mechanism may be configured to adjust to a force provided by the counterbalance system in response to the load changing. The system further includes a release for engaging the counterbalance mechanism to assist the user in raising or lowering the tray.

Abstract: A knock down furniture system is presented. The furniture uses joints which bend or twist a panel when inserted into an adjoining panel to place the joint under stress and stiffen the joint. Preferably, tabs are used in combination with offset or rotated slots to achieve the same. The system allows for furniture which does not require fasteners or tools and which is easily assembled while still being stable. Parts of the furniture can be interchanged within a piece of furniture or between different pieces of furniture to customize the configuration of the furniture.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a carrier for an optical fiber having a plurality of optical sensors located thereon. The carrier has a test section comprising a cavity and at least one geometric discontinuity, wherein in response to a pressure applied to the test section, a stress concentration is formed proximate to the geometric discontinuity, and wherein the optical sensor is adhered to at least a part of the geometric discontinuity. The cavity may be filled with a liquid or a gel. A temperature optical sensor may also be provided adjacent to the pressure optical sensor.

Abstract: A drive train for supplying power to a power tool may include, a motor, a motor shaft, a rotational coupling mechanism connected to the motor shaft, and a drive shaft connected to the rotational coupling mechanism that forms the shape of a “U.” A pair of enmeshed bevel gears transfers the motion from the motor shaft to an orthogonal tool bit. The drive train may also include a hammering device that transfers a rotational impacting motion to the tool bit. A hand power tool for driving a screw may include a tool shell with an integrally formed vertical handle, a rotational recess formed into the tool shell opposite the handle, and a tool chuck within the rotational recess that drives a screw. The tool may incorporate the drive train as described above. The tool may include a mechanism for locking the tool chuck in a particular position.

Abstract: A knock down furniture system is presented. The furniture uses joints which bend or twist a panel when inserted into an adjoining panel to place the joint under stress and stiffen the joint. Preferably, tabs are used in combination with offset or rotated slots to achieve the same. The system allows for furniture which does not require fasteners or tools and which is easily assembled while still being stable. Parts of the furniture can be interchanged within a piece of furniture or between different pieces of furniture to customize the configuration of the furniture.

Abstract: A force engine operable to counterbalance a load. The force engine includes one or more energy reservoirs operable to store energy. The one or more energy reservoirs are operable to generate a force to balance the load through the displacement in an operating mode. A traveling member is hingedly connected to the one or more energy reservoirs. The force generated by the one or more energy reservoirs is transferred to the load through the traveling member and an associated linkage. A variable member is coupled to the one or more energy reservoirs. In the adjusting mode the variable member is displaced to configure an operating relationship between the one or more energy reservoirs and the traveling member. A release interacts with the variable member to fix a position of the variable member.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a carrier for an optical fiber having a plurality of optical sensors located thereon. Such carrier can be a thick-walled capillary tube or other shapes. The carrier has a sealed hollow body with a side wall. The side wall is profiled at least one predetermined location to form a thin-walled section and at least one optical sensor is attached to said thin-walled section. As the thin-walled section flexes in response to a pressure difference across it, the pressure difference is sensed by the optical sensor. The carrier may also have a slot defined on its side wall to receive the optical fiber. A temperature optical sensor may also be provided adjacent to the pressure optical sensor.

Abstract: An optical inclination sensor is provided having at least one reflective surface and at least two separate optical fibers having ends spaced from a reflective surface. As the reflective surface tilts with respect to a pre-determined reference position the gap lengths between the fiber ends and the reflective surface change and the differences in these gap lengths is used to calculate an angle of inclination with respect to a reference position. The optical inclination sensor can include at least one mass attached to a housing and moveable with respect to the housing as the mass and housing are rotated about one or more axes. Optical strain sensors are disposed a various locations between the mass and housing so that as the mass moves with respect to the housing, each one of the optical strain sensors are placed in compression or tension. The housing can be a generally u-shaped housing having two arms and a base section with the mass disposed within the housing.

Abstract: An interferometric sensing arrangement includes an interferometric sensor having an optical path length that varies depending on one or more physical parameters to be measured using the interferometric sensor. One or more light sources are used to generate light at three or more predetermined different fixed wavelengths. In a preferred example embodiment, four fixed wavelength lasers are used to generate light at four predetermined different fixed wavelengths. An optical coupler couples the multiple wavelength light to the interferometric sensor, and a detector measures an amplitude response of an interferometric signal produced by the interferometric sensor. A controller determines the optical path length based on the measured amplitude response.

Abstract: An optical inclination sensor is provided having at least one reflective surface and at least two separate optical fibers having ends spaced from a reflective surface. As the reflective surface tilts with respect to a pre-determined reference position the gap lengths between the fiber ends and the reflective surface change and the differences in these gap lengths is used to calculate an angle of inclination with respect to a reference position. The optical inclination sensor can include at least one mass attached to a housing and moveable with respect to the housing as the mass and housing are rotated about one or more axes. Optical strain sensors are disposed a various locations between the mass and housing so that as the mass moves with respect to the housing, each one of the optical strain sensors are placed in compression or tension. The housing can be a generally u-shaped housing having two arms and a base section with the mass disposed within the housing.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a carrier for an optical fiber having a plurality of optical sensors located thereon. The carrier has a test section comprising a cavity and at least one geometric discontinuity, wherein in response to a pressure applied to the test section, a stress concentration is formed proximate to the geometric discontinuity, and wherein the optical sensor is adhered to at least a part of the geometric discontinuity. The cavity may be filled with a liquid or a gel. A temperature optical sensor may also be provided adjacent to the pressure optical sensor.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a carrier for an optical fiber having a plurality of optical sensors located thereon. Such carrier can be a thick-walled capillary tube or other shapes. The carrier has a sealed hollow body with a side wall. The side wall is profiled at least one predetermined location to form a thin-walled section and at least one optical sensor is attached to said thin-walled section. As the thin-walled section flexes in response to a pressure difference across it, the pressure difference is sensed by the optical sensor. The carrier may also have a slot defined on its side wall to receive the optical fiber. A temperature optical sensor may also be provided adjacent to the pressure optical sensor.

Abstract: A medical device or intravascular device, and methods of use. The devices may be tubular and may have a flexible polymer tip. The body may be nitinol and may have cuts part way through along its length to facilitate bending. The device may have a liner which may extend through the tip or form the tip. The device may have markers readily visible on an X-ray viewer during insertion. The tip may have an anti-collapsing structure and may be shaped before use to perform a medical procedure such as treating an aneurysm. The device may have a strong fiber through it for complete removal. The method may include selecting the device, bending the tip, setting the shape, and inserting the device into the patient's anatomy. The shape of the tip may be set by heating with steam and then removing a mandrel.

Abstract: A medical system and device for use in delivering RF energy to a tissue opening and a method for determining an RF dose is disclosed. In one embodiment, the medical device includes an electrode or anchor and one or more devices, such as an impedance electrode, RF electrode and/or thermocouple. The electrode or anchor can be deployed from a delivery shaft inside the left atrium, for example, of a heart and substantially conform to the tissue proximate the tissue opening. Tissue characteristics, such as temperature and/or impedance, can be measured, before, during and after application of RF energy to the tissue, by one or more devices to determine an RF dose. After energy is applied to the tissue between the left and right electrodes, the left electrode can be removed from the left atrium by being received back into the delivery shaft and the delivery shaft thereafter removed from the opening.