Abstract: The present invention includes a medical device including a base member having a receiving element and an engagement member connected to the base member. In the various embodiment described below, the engagement member includes a user end, an engagement end, and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism is adapted to interface with the receiving element in response to a user input such that the engagement end engages a tracheal region of a patient thereby substantially prohibiting flow through the esophagus of the patient. In other embodiments of the present invention, the medical device further includes a retaining strap adapted to secure the base member about a neck region of the patient, thus prohibiting movement of the base member relative to the tracheal region of the patient.

Abstract: Sheet feeder having adaptive mechanism for assuring dependable automatic operation when the stack of sheets to be fed consists of sheets having varying thicknesses and weights. In a sheet feeder having pickers to move a document from the top of a stack of sheets supported by a moveable table to a feed-in position, the latter possibly including a vacuum belt for moving the document, sensors supply signals to indicate a sheet has been picked. After moving the pickers and table to initial positions, the controller moves the picker to a predetermined reference position. If a sheet is picked above or below the predetermined initial position, the position of the table is adjusted accordingly.