Abstract: A remote sensing system and method for instrumenting the entries to manhole enclosures, in order to provide a platform and means for sensing environmental parameters within and around the enclosures and wirelessly transmitting those parameters to a distant site. The system comprises a housing with sensor for monitoring environmental parameter in the vicinity of the manhole. A microcontroller in the housing sends the parameters to a radio module, which transmits the parameters to a communication device for alerting a user that a manhole has been tampered with.

Abstract: An auto injector including: a housing; an outlet portion with a needle (110) moveable relative to the housing; a container (104) within the housing for containing medicament; and an actuatable deployment mechanism configured to deploy the outlet portion by moving the outlet portion relative to the housing and to eject medicament contained in the container through the outlet portion. The auto injector is configured to store a volume of fluid and includes a filling mechanism configured to expel the volume of fluid from the outlet portion and subsequently to draw medicament through the outlet portion and into the container. An adaptor (112) fits to the auto injector so as to cover the needle and includes a puncture member configured to puncture a vial, the puncture member providing fluid communication to the needle.

Abstract: A remote sensing system and method for instrumenting the entries to manhole enclosures, in order to provide a platform and means for sensing environmental parameters within and around the enclosures and wirelessly transmitting those parameters to a distant site. The system comprises a housing with sensor for monitoring environmental parameter in the vicinity of the manhole. A microcontroller in the housing sends the parameters to a radio module, which transmits the parameters to a communication device for alerting a user that a manhole has been tampered with.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring environmental parameters within an enclosure includes a power source; a communication device electrically connected to the power source and attachable to a cover of the enclosure; and a sensor suspended away from the cover of the enclosure. A method for providing a monitor of environmental parameters within an enclosure includes attaching a communication device to a cover of the enclosure, connecting the communication device to a power source; and suspending a sensor away from the cover of the enclosure. A method for monitoring environmental parameters within an enclosure includes monitoring one or more environmental parameters with a sensor suspended by a cable within an enclosure, and transmitting data representing one or more monitored environmental parameters from a communication device to a second communication device.

Abstract: A remote sensing system and method for instrumenting the entries to manhole enclosures, in order to provide a platform and means for sensing environmental parameters within and around the enclosures and wirelessly transmitting those parameters to a distant site. The system comprises a housing with sensor for monitoring environmental parameter in the vicinity of the manhole. A microcontroller in the housing sends the parameters to a radio module, which transmits the parameters to a communication device for alerting a user that a manhole has been tampered with.

Abstract: A robust low profile antenna well suited for deployment on the lids of cavities, such as manholes is described. The antenna is constructed from a coaxial cable for use proximate to a structural surface. The antenna is formed by folding back an outer metallic braid of an end of the coaxial cable to a length that approximately matches ¼ of a wavelength of a desired operating frequency times a velocity factor of the coaxial cable. Next, the radiative element is formed by exposing the center conductor from the end of the coaxial cable to a length that approximately matches ¼ of the wavelength of the operating frequency multiplied by the composite velocity factor being based on a dielectric encasing of the coaxial cable and the distance of the antenna from the structural surface. The antenna is oriented substantially parallel to the structural surface. The resulting antenna is of a comparable size to the coaxial cable.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that facilitate the detection of leaks in a pressured pipe. The system includes one or a plurality of pressure sensors, placed at one or several locations along the pipe, and a power source providing power to the one or plurality of pressure sensors. Also a computing device, a communications device, and an algorithm is included. The algorithm assesses data received from the communications device, the data containing information from the one or plurality of pressure sensor(s), wherein the algorithm determines the presence of a pressure leak in the pressurized pipe based on a first pressure profile versus a second pressure profile.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating power in an enclosure includes a power generation device configured to operate in the environmental conditions of the enclosure, a first power storage device connected to the power generation device and configured to store power generated by the power generation device, a power converter connected to the power storage device and configured to output power at a voltage different than that output by the power storage device, and a second power storage device connected directly or indirectly to the power converter and configured to store power output by the power converter. The second power storage device may then provide power for at least one component of an environmental monitoring system.

Abstract: A remote sensing system and method for instrumenting the entries to manhole enclosures, in order to provide a platform and means for sensing environmental parameters within and around the enclosures and wirelessly transmitting those parameters to a distant site. The system comprises a housing with sensor for monitoring environmental parameter in the vicinity of the manhole. A microcontroller in the housing sends the parameters to a radio module, which transmits the parameters to a communication device for alerting a user that a manhole has been tampered with.

Abstract: A method for determining false alarms at an entry to an enclosure includes: receiving a first reading from a first sensor representing intrusion of the enclosure, receiving a second reading from a second sensor, and generating an entry alarm if the second reading confirms intrusion of the enclosure. An apparatus that determines false alarms at an entry to an enclosure includes a first sensor which senses for intrusion of the enclosure, a second sensor, and a processor with instructions for generating an alarm if the first sensor detects intrusion of the enclosure and the second reading confirms intrusion of the enclosure. Another method for determining false alarms includes receiving readings from a sensor over a period of time, storing the readings at least temporarily in a memory, and comparing a window of the stored readings to a stored signature. An entry alarm is generated based on a comparison of the stored readings to the stored signature.

Abstract: A remote sensing system and method for instrumenting the entries to manhole enclosures, in order to provide a platform and means for sensing environmental parameters within and around the enclosures and wirelessly transmitting those parameters to a distant site. The system comprises a housing with sensor for monitoring environmental parameter in the vicinity of the manhole. A microcontroller in the housing sends the parameters to a radio module, which transmits the parameters to a communication device for alerting a user that a manhole has been tampered with.

Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring environmental parameters within an enclosure includes a power source; a communication device electrically connected to the power source and attachable to a cover of the enclosure; and a sensor suspended away from the cover of the enclosure. A method for providing a monitor of environmental parameters within an enclosure includes attaching a communication device to a cover of the enclosure, connecting the communication device to a power source; and suspending a sensor away from the cover of the enclosure. A method for monitoring environmental parameters within an enclosure includes monitoring one or more environmental parameters with a sensor suspended by a cable within an enclosure, and transmitting data representing one or more monitored environmental parameters from a communication device to a second communication device.

Abstract: A remote sensing system and method for instrumenting the entries to manhole enclosures, in order to provide a platform and means for sensing environmental parameters within and around the enclosures and wirelessly transmitting those parameters to a distant site. The system comprises a housing with sensor for monitoring environmental parameter in the vicinity of the manhole. A microcontroller in the housing sends the parameters to a radio module, which transmits the parameters to a communication device for alerting a user that a manhole has been tampered with.

Abstract: The invention provides alcohol-free chlorhexidine compositions, improved methods for preparing colloidal chlorhexidine containing compositions, and methods for promoting an antibacterial effect comprising administering chlorhexidine compositions to the mouth of an animal. The invention also provides an improved chlorhexidine composition comprising a flavoring agent (e.g. a raspberry flavoring agent) that increases the antibacterial activity of the composition.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems and methods for the continuous, on-line, real-time surveillance (CORTS) of microorganisms/particles. In one embodiment, a system comprises an optical illuminator for directing a light along a beam axis and onto a particle. In addition, the system comprises an angular amplifier configured to receive light scattered in a plurality of directions by the particle, and to minimize the angular dispersion of the scattered light with respect to the beam axis. The system also comprises an optical detector configured to receive at least a portion of the scattered light from the angular amplifier. A method of identifying particles comprises directing a light along a beam axis and onto a particle, and receiving light scattered in a plurality of directions by the particle. The method further comprises minimizing the angular dispersion of the scattered light with respect to the beam axis, and detecting at least a portion of the scattered light after minimizing the angular dispersion of the beam.

Abstract: An improvement is provided for a system that identifies particles such as microorganisms in fluid by directing a laser beam (52) forwardly through a tiny detect zone (46) in the fluid and detecting the pattern of light scatter by a particle as it passes through the detect zone. The improvement includes a holographic optical element (60) positioned forward of the detect zone to intercept light scattered in multiple directions by the particle. The holographic optical element is divided into discrete areas, or sections, that each directs intercepted scattered light toward a selected photodetector (74, 90, 92) of a linear array (62) of photodetectors. A converging lens (106) reduces the required diffraction angles of the sections of the holographic optical element. This arrangement avoids the need to custom mount and connect numerous individual photocells, and enables simplified high speed readout of the photodetectors.

Abstract: A lifting column, preferably for height-adjustable articles of furniture, such as beds and tables, comprises a drive unit (13), wherein extension of the column takes place with at least one flexible element (9), such as a chain, belt or the like running over a pulley wheel. The column comprises two rigidly interconnected pulley wheels (16) and two additional pulley wheels (7) which are arranged such that the four wheels form two pairs and which are rigidly connected with a flexible link in the column. The flexible element runs over each of the two pairs of pulley wheels. One run of the flexible elements between two pulley wheels is fixed to a link in the column, while the other run is fixed to a subsequent link. When the column is subjected to moment loading, the forces will compensate each other fully or partly because of the rigid interconnection between the two sets of pulley wheels (16). The column is hereby very rigid.

Abstract: A system for identifying microorganisms and other microscopic particles in a fluid, includes a laser that directs a laser beam (14) through a detect zone (20) and a plurality of photodetectors (30) that detect light scattered in different directions from a particle at the detect zone. The system includes a glass carrier (110) that confines fluid to movement along a narrow passage (116) in the carrier. The front surface (130) of the passage is flat, to facilitate prediction of the scatter light paths, and to enable the passage to have a small cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A system for identifying microorganisms and other microscopic particles in a fluid, includes a laser that directs a laser beam (14) through a detect zone (20) and a plurality of photodetectors (30) that detect light scattered in different directions from a particle at the detect zone. The system includes a glass carrier (110) that confines fluid to movement along a narrow passage (116) in the carrier. The front surface (130) of the passage is flat, to facilitate prediction of the scatter light paths, and to enable the passage to have a small cross-sectional area.

Abstract: A method and system for processing and disseminating utility outage information is disclosed. In response to the receipt of new data in the form of events, the data is mapped into a geographic information system and transmitted to selected recipients, or subscribers. Each subscriber has one or more areas of interest that define the information it receives. Each subscriber also has a security classification that further defines the information it may receive as well as the subscriber's ability to trigger events, or update the outage information. The mechanism of the invention employs multiple ways of disseminating the information. A subscriber may request that updated information be sent to the subscriber in response to a subscriber's request. Alternatively, the subscriber may request that updated information be automatically transmitted to the subscriber when updated information is received.