Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining flexural rigidity of a plant. The apparatus includes a base and support hingedly coupled thereto. A contact element on the support engages the stem of plant. Force and angular displacement data are collected. Flexural rigidity of the plant stem is determined.

Abstract: A biopsy system driver includes a motor having a rotatable output shaft, a support structure, a drive shaft, an elongate lead screw and a biopsy instrument drive member. The drive shaft is rotatably coupled to the support structure and includes or is otherwise operatively connected to the motor output shaft such that activation of the motor rotates the drive shaft. The elongate lead screw is coupled to the drive shaft such that rotation of the drive shaft rotates the lead screw about an axis of the lead screw. The lead screw is axially translatable relative to the drive shaft and to the support structure. The biopsy instrument drive member is threadably coupled to the lead screw such that rotation of the lead screw causes axial translation of one of the lead screw and biopsy instrument drive member relative to the other one and to the support structure.

Abstract: A biopsy system driver includes a motor having a rotatable output shaft, a support structure, a drive shaft, an elongate lead screw and a biopsy instrument drive member. The drive shaft is rotatably coupled to the support structure and includes or is otherwise operatively connected to the motor output shaft such that activation of the motor rotates the drive shaft. The elongate lead screw is coupled to the drive shaft such that rotation of the drive shaft rotates the lead screw about an axis of the lead screw. The lead screw is axially translatable relative to the drive shaft and to the support structure. The biopsy instrument drive member is threadably coupled to the lead screw such that rotation of the lead screw causes axial translation of one of the lead screw and biopsy instrument drive member relative to the other one and to the support structure.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for determining flexural rigidity of a plant. The apparatus includes a base and support hingedly coupled thereto. A contact element on the support engages the stem of plant. Force and angular displacement data are collected. Flexural rigidity of the plant stem is determined.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes an instrument set and an instrument drive unit removably coupled to the instrument set. The instrument set includes an instrument set housing; an elongate outer cannula having a tissue receiving aperture in a side wall thereof; an elongate inner cannula disposed within an outer cannula lumen; an aspiration vent fluidly coupling the outer cannula lumen to atmosphere; and an aspirate valve in the aspiration vent, and configured such that the outer cannula lumen is vented to atmosphere only when the aspirate valve is open. The instrument drive unit includes a drive unit support structure removably coupled to the instrument set housing; a motorized inner cannula driver configured to axially oscillate the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula to sever tissue extending through the tissue receiving opening; and an actuating member configured to selectively mechanically prevent the aspirate valve from closing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a lock (5) for a hinged closure, comprising a housing (8) adapted to be mounted on a frame (3) of the closure, and seating internally thereof a bolt device (4) reciprocable relative to the housing between respective open and closed positions of the closure and having a throw of substantially 70 mm to bridge in use a gap between the frame and a facing keeper, characterised by a Eurocylinder lock means (5) adapted to engage and retain the bolt (4) in the locked, or closed, position of the closure. There is also disclosed means to protect the said lock (5) against vandalism, the means comprising in disclosed embodiments a cover plate (305,305a), an inclined escutcheon (6), or smooth fillet weld(s) securing the escutcheon (6) to the housing (8).

Abstract: A biopsy device includes an instrument set and an instrument drive unit removably coupled to the instrument set. The instrument set includes an instrument set housing; an elongate outer cannula having a tissue receiving aperture in a side wall thereof; an elongate inner cannula disposed within an outer cannula lumen; an aspiration vent fluidly coupling the outer cannula lumen to atmosphere; and an aspirate valve in the aspiration vent, and configured such that the outer cannula lumen is vented to atmosphere only when the aspirate valve is open. The instrument drive unit includes a drive unit support structure removably coupled to the instrument set housing; a motorized inner cannula driver configured to axially oscillate the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula to sever tissue extending through the tissue receiving opening; and an actuating member configured to selectively mechanically prevent the aspirate valve from closing.

Abstract: A magnetic shield for shielding adjacent coils of an ICPT system. One or more conductors are configured to distribute induced eddy currents from the surface of the shield to below the surface and thus reduce heating due to eddy currents. The magnetic shield may be employed to transfer power over rotary couplings, such as the shaft of a wind turbine.

Abstract: A contactless inductively coupled power transfer system is provided including multiple pairs of power transmitter and power receiver coils and a power management module for controlling the supply of power to transmitter coils or the power supplied by the power receiver module to loads. The design is particularly suited for use in a wind turbine to supply power to the nacelle. The transmitter coils may be driven in phase at the same frequency or at different frequencies selected to avoid interaction between transmitter coils and the power transmitter module. The transmitter and receiver coils may be arranged in a traditional slip ring type configuration with adjacent coil pairs are physically spaced apart to avoid cross coupling with adjacent transmitter and receiver coil pairs shielded from each other. The power transmitter module may employ Zero Voltage Switching (ZVS).

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring three-dimensional radiation dose distributions with high spatial and temporal resolution using a large-volume scintillator. The scintillator converts the radiation dose distribution into a visible light distribution. The visible light is transported to one or more photo-detectors, which measure the light intensity. The light signals are processed to correct for optical artifacts, and the three-dimensional light distribution is reconstructed. The reconstructed light distribution is post-processed to convert light amplitudes to measured radiation doses. The high temporal resolution of the detector makes it possible to observe the evolution of a dynamic dose distribution as it changes over time. Integral dose distributions can be measured by summing the dose over time.

Abstract: A biopsy instrument driver includes a drive member having a laterally extending catch arm and movable between a distal, fired position and a proximal, armed position. A reversible motor has a rotatable output comprising or otherwise being operatively connected to a drive shaft, such that activation of the motor rotates the drive shaft. A translating member is threadably coupled to the drive shaft, wherein rotation of the drive shaft causes axial translation of the translating member along the drive shaft. A latch base is operatively associated with the translating member. A latch arm is pivotally coupled to the latch base, and has a distal portion configured to selectively engage and retain the drive member catch arm, and a proximal portion operatively coupled to the translating member, such that movement of the translating member relative to the latch base pivots latch arm distal portion.

Abstract: A biopsy device includes an instrument set and an instrument drive unit removably coupled to the instrument set. The instrument set includes an instrument set housing; an elongate outer cannula having a tissue receiving aperture in a side wall thereof; an elongate inner cannula disposed within an outer cannula lumen; an aspiration vent fluidly coupling the outer cannula lumen to atmosphere; and an aspirate valve in the aspiration vent, and configured such that the outer cannula lumen is vented to atmosphere only when the aspirate valve is open. The instrument drive unit includes a drive unit support structure removably coupled to the instrument set housing; a motorized inner cannula driver configured to axially oscillate the inner cannula relative to the outer cannula to sever tissue extending through the tissue receiving opening; and an actuating member configured to selectively mechanically prevent the aspirate valve from closing.

Abstract: A magnetic shield for shielding adjacent coils of an ICPT system. One or more conductors are configured to distribute induced eddy currents from the surface of the shield to below the surface and thus reduce heating due to eddy currents. The magnetic shield may be employed to transfer power over rotary couplings, such as the shaft of a wind turbine.

Abstract: A magnetic shield for shielding adjacent coils of an ICPT system. One or more conductors are configured to distribute induced eddy currents from the surface of the shield to below the surface and thus reduce heating due to eddy currents. The magnetic shield may be employed to transfer power over rotary couplings, such as the shaft of a wind turbine.

Abstract: A wirelessly rechargeable battery is provided having coils oriented off major battery axes to facilitate good coupling with power transmitter magnetic fields. A magnetic core may house charging electronics for a compact form factor. A wireless power transmitter that produces fields to maximize coupling with receiver coils.

Abstract: A plate-fin heat exchanger for transferring heat from hot low-pressure fluid to cold high-pressure fluid may include a plurality of adjacent heat exchange modules, each having a plurality of plates and fins that define hot fluid flow paths and cold fluid flow paths. A first entry manifold delivers hot fluid to each of the hot fluid flow paths and a second entry manifold delivers cold fluid to each of the cold fluid flow paths. A first exit manifold is provided for receiving hot fluid from each of the hot fluid flow paths and a second exit manifold is provided for receiving cold fluid from each of the cold fluid flow paths. The first entry manifold includes two inlets through which hot fluid can enter the heat exchanger, and the first exit manifold includes two outlets through which the hot fluid can exit the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A wirelessly rechargeable battery is provided having coils oriented off major battery axes to facilitate good coupling with power transmitter magnetic fields. A magnetic core may house charging electronics for a compact form factor. A wireless power transmitter that produces fields to maximize coupling with receiver coils.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring three-dimensional radiation dose distributions with high spatial and temporal resolution using a large-volume scintillator. The scintillator converts the radiation dose distribution into a visible light distribution. The visible light is transported to one or more photo-detectors, which measure the light intensity. The light signals are processed to correct for optical artifacts, and the three-dimensional light distribution is reconstructed. The reconstructed light distribution is post-processed to convert light amplitudes to measured radiation doses. The high temporal resolution of the detector makes it possible to observe the evolution of a dynamic dose distribution as it changes over time. Integral dose distributions can be measured by summing the dose over time.

Abstract: A biopsy system driver includes a motor having a rotatable output shaft, a support structure, a drive shaft, an elongate lead screw and a biopsy instrument drive member. The drive shaft is rotatably coupled to the support structure and includes or is otherwise operatively connected to the motor output shaft such that activation of the motor rotates the drive shaft. The elongate lead screw is coupled to the drive shaft such that rotation of the drive shaft rotates the lead screw about an axis of the lead screw. The lead screw is axially translatable relative to the drive shaft and to the support structure. The biopsy instrument drive member is threadably coupled to the lead screw such that rotation of the lead screw causes axial translation of one of the lead screw and biopsy instrument drive member relative to the other one and to the support structure.

Abstract: In an inductively coupled power transmitter a force detector that detects the presence of a potential device by monitoring forces applied to a surface of the power transmitter and activates the inductively coupled power transmitter upon detection of a potential device. An inductively coupled power transmitter having a proximity detector that detects the presence and location of a potential device by monitoring the proximity of devices to a surface of the power transmitter and activates the inductively coupled power transmitter upon detection of a potential device. The transmitter preferably has one or more detection coils each having an area much greater than that of the transmitter coils for detecting the presence of a potential device.