Abstract: An electrosurgical apparatus and method for performing thermal treatment in the gastrointestinal tract, e.g. to ablate duodenal mucosal tissue. The apparatus comprises an instrument having a flexible cable and an applicator suitable for use with a gastroscope, which can be deployed within a patient to delivery energy in a targeted or otherwise controllable manner. The applicator can deliver microwave energy by radiation. The direct and depth-limited nature of microwave energy can be make it more effective than treatments that rely on thermal conduction. The applicator may include a radially extendable portion arranged to move an microwave energy delivery structure into contact with duodenal mucosal tissue at the treatment region. The applicator may comprise any of a balloon, bipolar radiator, movable paddle, and rotatable roller element.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling an ensemble of interacting toy construction models. The interacting toy construction models include toy construction elements having functional toy construction elements, the toy construction elements include coupling members configured for detachably interconnecting the toy construction elements with each other. The functional toy construction elements may perform a function in compliance with a configuration defining a functional behaviour. The method includes configuring the functional toy construction elements in the interacting toy construction models based on information on further functional toy construction elements in said interacting toy construction model to coordinate their functional behaviour in a model-behaviour; and further adapting the model-behaviour based on information on further interacting toy construction models in the ensemble.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a pressure tolerant camera system includes: an enclosure filled with an incompressible fluid and having a viewport through which light can pass; a digital image sensor provided within the enclosure; and a plurality of mirror lenses provided within the enclosure and arranged to reflect light from the viewport onto the digital image sensor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for efficiently and cost-effectively having a magnetic buckle including a buckle base locking assembly. A first magnet clip with a lock hole are disposed on a buckle base assembly, a lock tongue optionally with a second magnet are disposed on a locking assembly, two moving portions are flush with the buckle base assembly respectively, and two unlocking portions are disposed within the buckle base assembly. When the lock hole is closed through a lock tongue, the first magnet attracts a second clip to guide the lock tongue into the lock hole to achieve locking.

Abstract: The invention covers a missile canister (10) for accommodating a missile (20) along a longitudinal axis (L) of the canister. The canister comprises a plurality of generally planar longitudinal wall portions (14) connected together to form a tubular vessel having a polygonal cross-section. The interconnecting portions (16) between wall sections (14) are generally flexible so that when a missile (20) is launched the bending moment at the interconnecting portions (16) generated by the increase of pressure in the vessel is substantially less than the bending moment (10) generated at the wall portions (14). The interconnecting portions (16) allow relative angular deflection between adjacent wall portions (14) at respective interconnecting portions (16) when said missile (20) is launched.

Abstract: Techniques for typographic electronic pagination are disclosed. In one embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus for typographic electronic pagination. In one implementation of the apparatus, the apparatus comprises at least one non-transitory processor readable storage medium with instructions stored on the at least one medium. The instructions are configured to be readable by at least one non-transitory processor and cause the at least one processor to operate. The processor operates so as to receive a plurality of articles, generate an index page based on relative visual weightings of the plurality of articles and a size of a canvas adapted to contain the index page, and generate a page layout for the plurality of articles based on page layout weightings and the size of canvas.

Abstract: The invention covers a missile canister (10) for accommodating a missile (20) along a longitudinal axis (L) of the canister. The canister comprises a plurality of generally planar longitudinal wall portions (14) connected together to form a tubular vessel having a polygonal cross-section. The interconnecting portions (16) between wall sections (14) are generally flexible so that when a missile (20) is launched the bending moment at the interconnecting portions (16) generated by the increase of pressure in the vessel is substantially less than the bending moment (10) generated at the wall portions (14). The interconnecting portions (16) allow relative angular deflection between adjacent wall portions (14) at respective interconnecting portions (16) when said missile (20) is launched.

Abstract: A valve cover housing for internal combustion engines. In one embodiment, the valve cover housing includes a conduit for passing a coolant fluid near the valvetrain, and in another embodiment, the housing includes an internal protuberance or other structure that promotes the dripping of oil or another lubricant onto a selected region or component of the valvetrain, such as the valve springs.

Abstract: A ski or snowboard may be constructed of an elongate body having a front end and a rear end. The body further includes a core with a top side and a bottom side. At least one layer of carbon fiber is laminated to the core at the top side and the bottom side. Also, at least one metal rib extends along the core, with the metal rib being sandwiched between the layers of carbon fiber.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for performing card authentication of a bank card. The method comprises reading a first liquid encoded number (LENcard) from a bank card; transmitting the LENcard to an authorisation server, the authorisation server interfaced to an authorisation database; retrieving at least a further liquid encoded number (LENcurrent) from the authorisation database; and comparing LENcard and LENcurrent. If the LENcard is not equal to the LENcurrent then if the bank card is a new card, the method includes processing the bank card as a new card otherwise processing the bank card as a fraudulent card. If the LENcard equals the LENcurrent, then the method includes generating a further liquid encoded number (LENnew); writing the LENnew to the bank card in place of the LENcard; and writing the LENnew to the authorisation database in place of the LENcurrent.

Abstract: A valve cover housing for internal combustion engines. In one embodiment, the valve cover housing includes a conduit for passing a coolant fluid near the valvetrain, and in another embodiment, the housing includes an internal protuberance or other structure that promotes the dripping of oil or another lubricant onto a selected region or component of the valvetrain, such as the valve springs.

Abstract: A system and method for providing call management services in a Virtual Private Network of the present invention uses the advantages of end-to-end Internet Protocol signaling. The system and method of the present invention includes a user profile which offers both a customer address and a user name as search keys. The method includes locating the called party who may be at a multiplicity of possible physical locations, evaluating the calling and called party privileges, routing preferences and busy/idle status for establishing permission to set up the call, determining an optimum route to establish the telephone call. Due to the system and method of the present invention, the telephone call takes the optimum route and preferably the most direct route to the destination with a high probability of completion.

Abstract: An automatic clothes washer having a clothes trap for reducing the likelihood that an article of clothing can escape from a wash basket during the spinning of the basket.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser operating in the mid-infrared region is described. In one particular embodiment, the semiconductor laser is provided having first and second cladding layers consisting essentially of GaSb that surround an active core, wherein the index of refraction of the first and second cladding layers is less than but close to the index of refraction of active core. The semiconductor laser in accordance with this invention has a low divergence angle with a high power efficiency. In an alternate embodiment, the semiconductor laser is provided having first and second cladding layers consisting essentially of AlxGa1-xAsySb1-y that surround the active core with an aluminum mole fraction between 0 and 25 percent. The index of refraction of the first and second cladding layers consisting essentially of AlxGa1-xAsySb1-y can be adjusted to match a variety of types of active cores and to provide a pre-determined divergence.

Abstract: A semiconductor laser operating in the mid-infrared region is described. In one particular embodiment, the semiconductor laser is provided having first and second cladding layers consisting essentially of GaSb that surround an active core, wherein the index of refraction of the first and second cladding layers is less than but close to the index of refraction of active core. The semiconductor laser in accordance with this invention has a low divergence angle with a high power efficiency. In an alternate embodiment, the semiconductor laser is provided having first and second cladding layers consisting essentially of AlxGa1−xAsySb1−y that surround the active core with an aluminum mole fraction between 0 and 25 percent. The index of refraction of the first and second cladding layers consisting essentially of AlxGa1−xAsySb1−y can be adjusted to match a variety of types of active cores and to provide a pre-determined divergence.

Abstract: In a remote data acquisition system a control unit transmits a radio signal simultaneously to a plurality of remote units. Each remote unit receives the radio signal at different times dependent on various system delay factors. A compensating delay is added in each remote unit in order to trigger each remote unit for data acquisition at the same time.

Abstract: A low reflectance reticle immersed in optical cement between transparent strates. A copper reticle is vacuum deposited upon one transparent substrate and chemically treated to produce anti-reflectance properties. The reticle and substrate to which it is attached are then cemented with optical cement to a second transparent substrate to immerse the anti-reflectance reticle between tranparent substrates in optical cement. The immersed reticle thus formed has superior anti-reflection properties and is protected from mechanical damage by its immersed location. Immersed reticles may be installed between elements of a compound lens if desired.

Abstract: An electronic flash unit attachable to the top of a camera shutter housing is provided with switch control apparatus which may be selectively extended into position so as to be engaged by the photographer when holding the camera in its normally expected manner. Engagement of the switch control apparatus by the photographer causes it to effect the closing of an ON-OFF switch thereby applying power to the flash unit whereas subsequent disengagement of the switch control apparatus causes it to automatically effect the opening of the ON-OFF switch.

Abstract: A control system for a gas turbine, which control system comprises a fuel pressurizing pump and two fuel flow restrictors supplied with fuel at different pressures from the pump, said restrictors being in communication with a common fuel pipe line, and there being electrically actuated means, e.g. a rotenoid, for varying the fuel pressure in the common fuel pipe line whereby said varying fuel pressure can be used for controlling the output of the gas turbine.

Abstract: In order to automatically adapt the control of an ultrasonic fuel-injection system or other system in which fuel delivery from nozzles is normally controlled by varying the mark/space ratio of energising current supplied to the nozzles, to variation of ambient pressure, a pressure-regulating unit is provided in a line leading from a source of fuel under pressure to the nozzles through a manually adjustable throttle valve and is arranged to maintain the pressure difference between the inlet and outlet of this series arrangement constant for any given ambient pressure P1. An altitude compensator comprising a spring-expanded vacuum capsule and a mechanical transmission is provided for varying this pressure difference in proportion to the ambient absolute pressure P1.