Abstract: A humidifier for use with a pressure support system. The humidifier includes a body having an inlet, a fluid holding chamber, and an outlet. The inlet is positioned upstream and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber. The outlet is positioned downstream of and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber. A back-flow preventing valve is positioned upstream of the fluid chamber. The back-flow preventing valve is movable between an open position, in which the inlet is unblocked, and a closed position in which the inlet is blocked. In the closed position, the back-flow preventing valve prevents fluid, fluid vapor, or both from entering the pressure support via the inlet to the humidifier.

Abstract: A humidifier for use with a pressure support system. The humidifier includes a body having an inlet, a fluid holding chamber, and an outlet. The inlet is positioned upstream and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber. The outlet is positioned downstream of and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber. A back-flow preventing valve is positioned upstream of the fluid chamber. The back-flow preventing valve is movable between an open position, in which the inlet is unblocked, and a closed position in which the inlet is blocked. In the closed position, the back-flow preventing valve prevents fluid, fluid vapor, or both from entering the pressure support via the inlet to the humidifier.

Abstract: A humidifier for use with a pressure support system. The humidifier includes a body having an inlet, a fluid holding chamber, and an outlet. The inlet is positioned upstream and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber. The outlet is positioned downstream of and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber. A back-flow preventing valve is positioned upstream of the fluid chamber. The back-flow preventing valve is movable between an open position, in which the inlet is unblocked, and a closed position in which the inlet is blocked. In the closed position, the back-flow preventing valve prevents fluid, fluid vapor, or both from entering the pressure support via the inlet to the humidifier.

Abstract: A T-bolt pipe clamp of the quick-attach type in which a head portion of the T-bolt can be inserted into or removed from one of the connecting ends of the clamp. The clamp has first and second loop ends that are drawn together during tightening by a T-bolt fastener. The first loop end has a latch insert that accepts the head portion of the T-bolt and provides additional strength to the loop end. The latch insert can include a tab to help guide the T-bolt into the loop end and thereafter prevent it from too easily disengaging the loop end.

Abstract: A T-bolt pipe clamp of the quick-attach type in which a head portion of the T-bolt can be inserted into or removed from one of the connecting ends of the clamp. The clamp has first and second loop ends that are drawn together during tightening by a T-bolt fastener. The first loop end has a latch insert that accepts the head portion of the T-bolt and provides additional strength to the loop end. The latch insert can include a tab to help guide the T-bolt into the loop end and thereafter prevent it from too easily disengaging the loop end.

Abstract: A humidifier for use with a pressure support system. The humidifier includes a body having an inlet, a fluid holding chamber, and an outlet. The inlet is positioned upstream and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber. The outlet is positioned downstream of and in fluid communication with the fluid holding chamber. A back-flow preventing valve is positioned upstream of the fluid chamber. The back-flow preventing valve is movable between an open position, in which the inlet is unblocked, and a closed position in which the inlet is blocked. In the closed position, the back-flow preventing valve prevents fluid, fluid vapor, or both from entering the pressure support via the inlet to the humidifier.

Abstract: An optical connector assembly comprising a base, an optical fiber connector, and a spring. The base is adapted to be fixedly attached to a printed circuit board. The optical fiber connector has an outer housing movably mounted to the base. The spring biases the optical fiber connector in a predetermined direction relative to the base.

Abstract: An optical connector ferrule comprising a main section comprising optical fiber receiving areas, and side sections on opposite lateral sides of the main section. The optical fiber receiving areas comprise a single slot which is sized and shaped to receive a plurality of spaced optical fibers and is adapted to keep the optical fibers spaced from each other in the slot.

Abstract: An improved assembly for housing actively aligned VCSELs or detectors to a light transport terminal, such as a ferrule, and a method and technique for actively aligning VCSELs and laser detectors to a light transport terminal, such as a ferrule, are provided. The method actively aligns an array of VCSELs or laser detectors to a light transport terminal, such as a first ferrule. The aligned components can then be secured to a retainer housing which can receive a plug. Then a plug, having a second ferrule with V-groove alignment portions and a substantially rectangular housing encasing the second ferrule, can be inserted into the retainer housing, thereby passively aligning the array of optical fibers carried by the second ferrule of the plug to the array of optical fibers of the first ferrule by way of posts extending from the first ferrule into the V-grooves of the second ferrule. A VCSEL or detector to optical fiber plug assembly is thus provided.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector subassembly comprising a first housing member and a first optical fiber locator. The first optical fiber locator is connected to the housing member. The locator is comprised of silicon and has channels for positioning optical fibers therein. The housing member comprises a recess. At least a portion of the locator is located in the recess to interlock the locator with the housing member.

Abstract: An optical connector comprising a ferrule, optical conductors, and epoxy. The ferrule has an optical conductor receiving area and guide pin receiving areas. The ferrule comprises at least two ferrule members having shaped surfaces on outer lateral sides which form the guide pin receiving areas. The ferrule members comprise mating projections and recesses proximate the outer lateral sides and between the optical conductor receiving area and the guide pin receiving areas which form epoxy seals. The optical conductors having portions located in the optical conductor receiving area. The epoxy is located in the optical conductor receiving area to connect the portions of the optical conductors to -the ferrule. The epoxy seals prevent the epoxy from flowing into the guide pin receiving areas.

Abstract: An improved assembly for housing actively aligned VCSELs or detectors to a light transport terminal, such as a ferrule, and a method and technique for actively aligning VCSELs and laser detectors to a light transport terminal, such as a ferrule, are provided. The method actively aligns an array of VCSELs or laser detectors to a light transport terminal, such as a first ferrule. The aligned components can then be secured to a retainer housing which can receive a plug. Then a plug, having a second ferrule with V-groove alignment portions and a substantially rectangular housing encasing the second ferrule, can be inserted into the retainer housing, thereby passively aligning the array of optical fibers carried by the second ferrule of the plug to the array of optical fibers of the first ferrule by way of posts extending from the first ferrule into the V-grooves of the second ferrule. A VCSEL or detector to optical fiber plug assembly is thus provided.

Abstract: A printed circuit board assembly includes a flexible circuit having a strain relief feature included on the flexible circuit. The board assembly includes a printed circuit board; connector adapted to be secured to the board; and a length of a flexible circuit having a number of conductors therein, one end portion of the length including a tab element, the end portion of which is secured to the connector and includes at least one strain relief member, each member adapted to be secured to the connector.

Abstract: A system for minimizing a protrusion of a fiber-optic cable from a mounting structure comprises a fiber-optic connector, an adapter for a fiber-optic connector, and a standoff The standoff positions the adapter and the connector at a fixed distance from a front surface of the mounting structure. A fiber-optic cable is routed from the connector through a penetration extending between the front and the rear surfaces of the mounting structure. The standoff has a minimum length that ensures that the connector does not protrude from the rear surface of the mounting structure. This arrangement allows a curvature to be imposed on the cable as it exits the rear surface. By imposing a curvature equal to the minimum bending radius of the cable, and extending this curvature through an arc of 90 degrees, a protrusion of the cable in a direction normal to the rear surface can be limited to the minimum bending radius of the cable.

Abstract: A connector couples with a mating component and has a main body and a generally planar latch. The main body is insertable into the mating component in a coupling direction, and has a face generally parallel to the coupling direction. The latch is resiliently coupled to the main body at the face thereof, and is generally parallel to the face. The latch includes a latching surface for cooperating with a latch-catch of the mating component, and is resiliently actuatable in the plane thereof. Accordingly, the latching surface is released from the latch-catch of the mating component. In one embodiment of the present invention, a pair of the connectors each couple with a respective mating component.