Abstract: A sanitizer includes a shell defining first and second chamber portions, and having an opening into the first portion. A cover has a closed position over the opening for preventing access to the chamber, and an open position for permitting access to the chamber. A tray is moveable between an access position in the first portion, for placement and retrieval of an article within the tray, and a sanitizing position in the second portion, for exposing the article to sanitizing electromagnetic radiation from an emitter mounted in the second portion. A controller controls an actuator coupled to the tray to move the tray to the sanitizing position when the cover is closed, and to return the tray to the access position when a return condition is satisfied. A radiation barrier is configured to substantially prevent radiation from reaching the opening when the tray is in the access position.

Abstract: A sanitizer includes a shell defining first and second chamber portions, and having an opening into the first portion. A cover has a closed position over the opening for preventing access to the chamber, and an open position for permitting access to the chamber. A tray is moveable between an access position in the first portion, for placement and retrieval of an article within the tray, and a sanitizing position in the second portion, for exposing the article to sanitizing electromagnetic radiation from an emitter mounted in the second portion. A controller controls an actuator coupled to the tray to move the tray to the sanitizing position when the cover is closed, and to return the tray to the access position when a return condition is satisfied. A radiation barrier is configured to substantially prevent radiation from reaching the opening when the tray is in the access position.

Abstract: A synthetic turf sports flooring product with a performance surface upon which sports can be played. The flooring product is formed from polymer fibers entangled to provide a sports surface layer which provides the performance surface, and substantially all of the polymer fibers of the sports surface layer are locked in position relative to the synthetic turf sports flooring product as a whole by the arrangement of fibers and contact between fibers in the mat. The fibers may be locked in position by entanglement, surface friction between fibers and/or inherent bonding of fibers in the synthetic turf sports flooring product. The product can provide a predictable playing surface which changes little with varying moisture and temperature changes during play, at least in part by avoiding the use of bonding chemicals in its structure. An underlay material of similar construction can be used in conjunction with the playing surface.

Abstract: A synthetic turf sports flooring product with a performance surface upon which sports can be played. The flooring product is formed from polymer fibres entangled to provide a sports surface layer which provides the performance surface, and substantially all of the polymer fibres of the sports surface layer are locked in position relative to the synthetic turf sports flooring product as a whole by the arrangement of fibres and contact between fibres in the mat. The fibres may be locked in position by entanglement, surface friction between fibres and/or inherent bonding of fibres in the synthetic turf sports flooring product. The product can provide a predictable playing surface which changes little with varying moisture and temperature changes during play, at least in part by avoiding the use of bonding chemicals in its structure. An underlay material of similar construction can be used in conjunction with the playing surface.

Abstract: A method of manufacture of an insulated structural panel which includes the step of feeding and laminating of a pair of outer skins (13, 14) and a core of insulating material (8) interposed therebetween through a press bed (7) to facilitate adhesion of an adhesive to internal surfaces of each outer skin (13, 14) and thus facilitate bonding of the core of insulating material (8) to each adjacent internal surface of each outer skin (13, 14) wherein each outer skin (13, 14) has an outer surface which is gripped by a conveyor (26, 27) having a continuous working surface in contact with each of said outer surfaces (13, 14) characterised in that said continuous working surface is formed by a coating (40, 40A, 40B) of elastomer or other synthetic polymer applied to a metal substrate. There is also provided a laminating machine (10) for use in the method as well as a track plate (37) for use in the laminating machine (10).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring an apparent depth of a section of an animal body are disclosed. Light is focused concurrently to an extended focal region comprising a plurality or continuum of measurement locations. Light reflected by a refractive index interface coincident with one of the plurality of measurement locations is detected. Detected light signals are generated from light reflected from first and second interfaces respectively defining the section under investigation, so that the apparent positions of the interfaces may be derived. A confocal arrangement and an axicon element may be employed. Preferably, the section is the aqueous humor of an eye. From changes in its refractive index corresponding changes in glucose concentration in the aqueous humor and, in turn, in the bloodstream of a patient may be derived, offering a non-invasive monitoring means for diabetic patients. Other compounds and structures of the body may alternatively be investigated.

Abstract: A sound processor including a microphone (1), a pre-amplifier (2), a bank of N parallel filters (3), means for detecting short-duration transitions in the envelope signal of each filter channel, and means for applying gain to the outputs of these filter channels in which the gain is related to a function of the second-order derivative of the slow-varying envelope signal in each filter channel, to assist in perception of low-intensity sort-duration speech features in said signal.

Abstract: The sound processor and method uses a model of basilar membrane motion to select stimuli, based upon the predicted motion which the acoustic signal presented would produce in an acoustically excited normally hearing cochlea. The filter; used, in contrast to single channel per electrode approaches, cover multiple channels and overlap with each other. Consequently the stimuli presented produce a neural excitation pattern which approximates the spatio-temporal travelling wave observed on the basilar membrane in an acoustically excited normally hearing cochlea. Preferably, the predicted electrode stimuli are based upon the instantaneous predicted amplitude of the electrode location.

Abstract: The sound processor and method uses a model of basilar membrane motion to select stimuli, based upon the predicted motion which the acoustic signal presented would produce in an acoustically excited normally hearing cochlea. The filter; used, in contrast to single channel per electrode approaches, cover multiple channels and overlap with each other. Consequently the stimuli presented produce a neural excitation pattern which approximates the spatio-temporal travelling wave observed on the basilar membrane in an acoustically excited normally hearing cochlea. Preferably, the predicted electrode stimuli are based upon the instantaneous predicted amplitude of the electrode location.

Abstract: An improved hearing prosthetic implant and method of stimulating are disclosed. The method comprises stimulating an electrode array using a set of current stimuli having different geometries, so as to provide a more regular and monotonic set of pitch percepts for a user.

Abstract: A method for processing sound signals to generate electrical stimuli for an auditory prosthesis electrode array including a plurality of electrodes, the method including: deriving (10) one or more filtered representations (FIGS. 3 and 4) of an incoming audio signal; and, generating (11) a series of spikes from each filtered signal representation to directly control electrode stimulation. Each spike has a temporal position based upon an instant at which the filtered signal representation crosses a predetermined threshold (ÿ;0).

Abstract: An implant package for a cochlear implant, including stimulator electronics contained within a protective housing (2) and being coupled to an electrode array (9) for insertion into the cochlea of a patient, and being further coupled to a receiving and/or transmitting coil (8) enclosed within a protective casing, said protective housing being dimensioned and shaped to be capable of location within the mastoid cavity (C) of the patient nearer to the entry point of the electrode array to the cochlea, said further coupling being contained in a flexible connection between the protective housing (2) and the protective casing (8).

Abstract: The sound processor and method uses a model of basilar membrane motion to select stimuli, based upon the predicted motion which the acoustic signal presented would produce in an acoustically excited normally hearing cochlea. The filter; used, in contrast to single channel per electrode approaches, cover multiple channels and overlap with each other. Consequently the stimuli presented produce a neural excitation pattern which approximates the spatio-temporal travelling wave observed on the basilar membrane in an acoustically excited normally hearing cochlea. Preferably, the predicted electrode stimuli are based upon the instantaneous predicted amplitude of the electrode location.

Abstract: A stimulation strategy for cochlear implants seeks to approximate the time domain response of a patient's neural system to electrical stimuli, to the time domain response of a normal hearing person to a corresponding acoustic stimulus. The strategy is designed to induce in the neurons of a patient a time domain response to an acoustic signal which is similar to, or approximates the time domain response induced by the normal processes in a healthy person. Various implementations are disclosed.

Abstract: A stimulation strategy for cochlear implants is disclosed. The method and devices that provides electrical stimuli seek to approximate the time domain response of a patient's neural system to electrical stimuli, to the time domain response of a normal hearing person to a corresponding acoustic stimulus.